On March 14, 2025, in Toulouse, 96 items from Edgar Bensoussan’s collection were auctioned by PRIMARDECO, with Geoffroy Ader as the expert on historical watches belonging to aviation pioneers.

Among these lots was a diamond-set white gold watch, marked “PARIS NEW YORK,” presented by the City of Paris to aviator Dieudonné Costes following his non-stop flight from Paris to New York in 1930.

This special-order watch from Boucheron reached a record price of €40,300, four times its estimate. Dieudonné Costes, a native of Septfonds (Tarn-et-Garonne), completed this flight with Maurice Bellonte aboard the famous “Breguet Point d’Interrogation.”

The journey lasted 37 hours and 18 minutes, and was met with receptions in New York and then Paris. Another Omega watch, intended for Bellonte, sold for €16,300. All lots offered at this sale were sold.

The watch collection on offer reflects Edgar Bensoussan’s interest in aviation and historical exploits. Originally from Oran, Algeria, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1943.

His career in the British Air Force is recalled in the tribute book written by his daughter Anne, in which he notably mentions his attachment to his RAF insignia. An archive photograph taken on September 3, 1943, shows Edgar Bensoussan and his brother Raoul with their squadron.

Throughout his life, Edgar Bensoussan devoted himself to collecting historic aircraft and watches associated with early 20th-century pilots. He acquired pieces related to aviation pioneers such as Dieudonné Costes, Maurice Bellonte, and Joseph Le Brix.