An open-face watch crafted from platinum and diamonds, formerly owned by Al Capone is heading to auction at Sotheby’s on June 10th, with a pre-sale estimate of $80,000 to $160,000. According to his family, it remains unclear where the American gangster originally acquired the watch. Reportedly dissatisfied with the ‘plain’ case of his Patek Philippe pocket watch, he is said to have taken it to a local jeweler for a custom upgrade—opting against a conventional engraving in favor of a more extravagant modification.
Capone had 90 single-cut white diamonds set into the case, forming his monogram “AC” in a striking Art Deco design.
Capone’s pocket watch is being auctioned off for the second time this decade. His family used the Sacramento-based auction house Witherells to sell a number of his personal belongings in 2021. His favourite Colt.45 semiautomatic handgun, a diamond tie bar and the personalised pocket watch were the highlights of that transaction. Originally valued between $25,000 and $50,000, the watch sold for an astounding $229,900.
This pocket watch, more a piece of memorabilia than a horological masterpiece, is distinguished among vintage timepieces by its rich history and fascinating details, notwithstanding its significantly faded dial and the absence of its minute hand.
Fascinated by historical artifacts and their rich backstories? This remarkable piece might just deserve a place in your collection. To participate in the auction, please register to place your bid on Sotheby’s website. What do you think this historical piece will fetch at auction?
Lot Details:
- Description
- Dial: silvered
- Caliber: mechanical, jeweled
- Movement number: 188’385
- Case: platinum, snap on case back with diamond-set letters ‘AC’
- Case number: 28’727
- Size: 42 mm diameter
- Signed: dial, and movement
- Box: no
- Papers: no
- Accessories: Provenance paper from Witherell’s Auction signed by Barbara Mae Capone
