The Patek Philippe was sold at Sotheby’s in New York for $USD92,500 ($AUD142,00). It was purchased by Berry’s Jewellers, a UK retailer, and managing director Simon Walton said it was a piece of great historical significance.
“I thought it would look great in the Leeds boutique and bring attention to opening the first Patek boutique to open outside London. It is also a fascinating part of Patek Philippe’s history,” he told WatchPro.
The pocket watch is in Art Deco style and features 90 single-cut diamonds. Despite his eventual conviction, the watch remained with Capone’s family and was auctioned initially in 2015 in Sacramento, selling for $USD229,000.
Headlining the June 10 auction was the sale of a Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph Ref. 2499 in pink gold, a watch believed to be the only one of its kind.
Manufactured in 1957, the watch was one of only nine second series Ref. 2499 watches cased in pink gold. A private collector won the bidding, winning the watch for $USD4.3 million ($AUD6.62 million).
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