A rare Patek Philippe pocket watch once owned by infamous mobster Al Capone in the 1920s will be a key highlight at Sotheby’s Important Watches auction in New York next month.
The platinum watch features an open face with a faded brown edge. Its case back is decorated with Capone’s monogram set in 90 diamonds.
The watch was sold in 2021 by Witherells for $229,900, far above its original pre-auction estimate of $25,000 to $50,000. This unexpected result came despite the watch not working and missing its minute hand.
Witherells received the watch from a direct descendant of Capone. The family passed the watch down from Capone to his son Sonny, and then to his daughters after Sonny died in 2004. The watch was sold during a wider estate auction.
Sotheby’s now estimates the watch will sell for between $80,000 and $160,000 in the upcoming sale.
While Capone’s watch is expected to draw attention, it is unlikely to fetch the highest price. That distinction may go to one of six Patek Philippe minute repeaters or a unique double-signed pink gold reference 2499 from Gobbi Milan in the auction.
The watch market may also feel pressure from tariff uncertainties. These tariffs make watches sourced within the US cheaper than those imported from abroad for American buyers.
A Sotheby’s spokesperson said, “The US is already the most important market for modern and vintage watches. This season, US buyers have an advantage. They can access top-tier watches without tariffs, getting the best deals at the perfect time.”
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