Watch The Pocket Gangsters
Violetta Wagganer
Capone's watch as well as a musical composition he handwrote behind bars in Alcatraz were among the items up for bid in the \"Gangsters, Outlaws and Lawmen\" auction by RR Auction, an auction house headquartered in Boston. The auction was held Saturday afternoon at the Royal Sonesta hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Capone, who was born to Italian immigrants in New York City, headed a Chicago-based crime empire during the Prohibition era that raked in millions of dollars through bootlegging, gambling, racketeering and other illicit activities. He was dubbed Scarface by the press after his face was slashed during a fight, a nickname he apparently disliked.
According to the auction house, the rounded triangular pocket watch was personally owned and used by Capone. The timepiece is on its original chain made of 14-karat white gold. The exterior of the case features 23 diamonds shaped to form Capone's initials, \"AC,\" which are encircled by 26 additional diamonds. Another 72 diamonds circle the watch's platinum face and gold-tone impressed numerals.
A musical piece entitled \"Humoresque,\" written in pencil by Capone when he was incarcerated in Alcatraz in the 1930s, was also up for grabs. The musical manuscript shows Capone's softer side, containing the lines: \"You thrill and fill this heart of mine, with gladness like a soothing symphony, over the air, you gently float, and in my soul, you strike a note.\"
Capone indulged in good cigars, flashy suits, gourmet food and the best drink, with a particular love of flamboyant and expensive jewelry. He favored large pinky rings and diamond-studded accessories, with this pocket watch being one of them.
The watch was crafted by the Illinois Watch Company, originally known as the Springfield Watch Company, founded in Springfield, Illinois, in 1870. In 1928, the Illinois Watch Company was purchased by the Hamilton Watch Company, which continued to operate under the Illinois name. Emphasis shifted from pocket watches to wristwatches, but the Great Depression forced Hamilton to close the factory. The company is currently owned by Craig Stone, and it produces and repairs watches out of Quincy, Illinois.
A diamond-studded, unusually shaped pocket watch that had belonged to Prohibition-era mob boss sold for an impressive $84,375. The timepiece was a triangular platinum-cased watch with cushioned corners. It was made by Illinois Watch Company and the bezel was set with 72 diamonds. The case back reveals the movement within and has the initials AC engraved on it. The watch was sold with its original 12-inch watch chain made in 14-karat white gold.
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