Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

New York, Mar 05, 2009

LOT 393

Joseph "The Godfather" Bonanno Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 966280, case No. 302352, Ref. 1516. Made in the late 1940s. Very fine, extremely rare and important, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with a 14K yellow gold brick link bracelet, given to him by Charlie "Lucky Luciano" in Palermo in 1957. Accompanied by a notarized letter from Joseph Bonanno?s daughter, Catherine Bonanno Genovese, stating the family history and the history of this watch.

USD 5,000 - 8,000

EUR 4,000 - 6,200 / CHF 5,800 - 9,000

Sold: USD 36,000

C. Two-body, solid, polished, concave lugs. D. Champagne with applied radial yellow gold Roman numerals and faceted baton indexes, subsidiary seconds dial. Yellow gold baton hands. M. Cal. 12-120, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 18 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, blued steel Breguet balance spring, micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 32 mm. Thickness 10 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 4-8-01

Fair

Slightly scratched

HANDS Original

Notes

Joseph Bonanno, Sr. (1905-2002) Born in Sicily in 1905, Joseph Bonanno moved to the United States and became involved in organized crime. At age 26, he became one of the youngest bosses of a crime family, as well as an influential member of the "Commission", a nation-wide organisation formed in 1931, in which each family had representation and to which it owed allegiance.
Joseph Bonanno was Godfather of the Bonanno ?Family? during some of the most turbulent and eventful years in the history of organized crime, from the 1930?s through the early 1960?s.
Much has been written about him. He is said to have inspired the character Vito Corleone in Mario Puzo's book "The Godfather". His autobiography, ?A Man of Honor,? was published in 1983. In the film "A Godfather's Story", Bonanno's part was played by Martin Landau. A documentary entitled "Joe Bonanno: The Last Godfather", chronicles his life.
This watch was given to Joseph Bonanno Sr. by Charlie ?Lucky? Luciano in Palermo, Sicily, in 1957. Joseph Bonanno, Sr. died in Tucson, Arizona on May 12, 2002 at the age of 97, of natural causes.
The watch has been authenticated by Joseph Bonanno's daughter Catherine Bonanno Genovese, in a document included in the lot.