A stunning piece of mob history will go under the hammer next month when Sotheby’s unveils a pocket watch which once belonged to an infamous gangster Al Capone. The watch is a real masterpiece and is made from platinum and encrusted with diamonds.
The pre-sale estimate of this unique Patek Philippe piece can fall anywhere between $80,500 and $161,000, according to some experts. It’ll be on display at the Important Watches sale in New York on 06.10.2025. But what really makes it special is not the price but its unique detailing and history.
As you probably know, Al Capone, one of the most well-known criminals from the Prohibition period, was never too shy to treat himself to something special and luxurious. He was famous for wearing warm wool coats and fitted 3-piece suits, not to mention the accessories of unusual design.
Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s.
Even though we still don’t know how exactly the watch was purchased, Sotheby’s auction house says he swapped out the Patek’s original case for a custom platinum one. At least, this is the most prevalent theory among his descendants.
The watch’s front has a long-form Patek Philippe signature, which is very appropriate for this era, and an open-face dial with stylish tastefully done Breguet numbers. Naturally, time has taken its toll: the hour hand is totally intact, but the minute one is gone, plus, the dial is visibly aging.
Capone’s intrepidly daring personality reveals itself even decades after the criminal was gone: once you turn the piece over, you’ll see that the caseback is encrusted with 91 single-cut diamonds which are arranged into the initials “A.C.” inside a round frame. The watch reminds us of one of the most famous and at the same time infamous criminals of the first half of the 20th century. And even though this isn’t the first time Al Capone’s accessories are sold to the public, this doesn’t make it any less special. The Olertis team wishes the Sotheby’s house a very successful sale that will outperform initial estimates and be deeply appreciated by jewelry enthusiasts from the US and around the world.
