According
to JCKonline, RR Auction, the Boston based auction house is
holding a remarkable live event that features jewels and other valuable items
of the infamous. Bidding on these items begins on June 15 and the live auction
will take place on June 24. The lot includes jewels that belonged to the outlaw
couple Bonnie and Clyde and feared gangster Al Capone.
Among the
remarkable items in this lot sale is the breathtaking Bonnie and Clyde promise
ring. The ring is a representation of a three headed snake and was found among
Sheriff Smoot Schmid’s possessions. He was the one who led the raid that got
the outlaw duo killed and kept some of the items in their “death car”. The ring
was recorded in Schmid’s family inventory as “Bonnie Parker Ring (3 silver
snakes with tiny jewels)”.
As it
turns out, this particular piece of jewelry was not stolen, despite the
couple’s “profession”. Clyde Barrow was a very talented craftsman and during
his time in jail he is said to have practiced leathercraft, woodworking and
even jewelry making. One interesting detail about his passion for crafting
various items is the fact that the objects that he made had similar features
and this promise ring makes no exception.
The
inside of the ring carries a maker’s mark that features an arrow
alongside the musical note B, representing both his love for Bonnie and his
love for music. Additionally, experts say that this hallmark actually spells
out his name. The ring was estimated at over $40,000 because it is such a rare
and remarkable item that shows the love these outlaws had for each other.
According to Bobby Livingston, RR Auction’s Executive Vice President, “Towards the end, Bonnie was
crippled for nine months, and yet Clyde stayed with her, even though it slowed
him down. They were gangsters but there is this love story that resonates to
this day.”
One other absolutely remarkable item available for collectors in this
lot sale is a pocket watch that belonged to Al Capone, who was known to be a smart
dresser at the time. The pocket watch has a triangular shape and it was
manufactured by the Illinois Watch Company. The gangster’s initials, „AC” are
spelled out in no less than 23 diamonds on the platinum faced watch. More than
this, the item has golden numerals and watch hands and it is no wonder that it
was estimated at over $25,000. It goes to show just how big of an ego Al Capone
had and how much he was willing to spend to let everyone know that. According
to Bobby Livingston: “To have his name spelled out in diamonds, it’s a pretty
phenomenal sign of his ego. And his ego is what brought him down.”
The
auction features a number of other remarkable items that are gangster or outlaw
related. These items can be browsed online in RR Auction’s catalogue or on
their website where collectors can get additional details on each
and every one of them.
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