He’s also my business partner. He kept his watch collection with me since his wife doesn’t allow him to buy watches and made me promise not to ever tell his wife about them. Not only because she doesn’t like it but also because she will definitely ask him to sell them and probably spend the money on clothes and traveling like she often does.
He lets me use the watches in the condition that I don’t cause any damage. But now that he passed away it doesn’t feel right any more.
His watch collection is worth about 200K$ in todays market. I think the lawful and ethical thing to do is to break the promise and tell his wife but I’m not sure that’s the right thing to do since he made me promise not to tell her.
The lawful and ethical thing to do is tell his wife.
But I’d consider the timing. If she finds out about this after an unexpected loss that could either make her feel even worse that she make him live hiding things he loved/enjoyed from her. Or she might be pissed and wonder what else he hid from her. Probably some of both.
Maybe wait until she has some time to accept the loss before telling her this. Just a thought… you know her personality and can make a better decision about this. But they are hers and need to be given to her, I’d say, within 6-9 months if not right away.