From the Museum

Sara Delano Roosevelt’s Pendant Watch (MO 2008.30)

This late nineteenth century Cartier pendant watch was a gift from James Roosevelt to his wife, Sara, to mark the conception of their son and future president, Franklin. The watch was later passed down to Laura Delano Eastman, the daughter of FDR’s cousin and a close friend of the Roosevelts. After her death in 2005, Laura bequeathed the watch to the Roosevelt Library.

The timepiece is constructed of green enamel in a solar guilloche pattern with a diamond star design on the reverse. The watch hangs from a gold, pearl, and enamel chain with diamond accents.