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.
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