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$425,000 Diamond Clock Stolen At Show By Woman In Made-For-Hollywood Heist

 This $425,000 clock was stolen from Merchandise Mart over the weekend, officials said.
This $425,000 clock was stolen from Merchandise Mart over the weekend, officials said.
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M.S. Rau Antiques

DOWNTOWN — In a made-for-Hollywood heist, a woman on Sunday stole a diamond- and sapphire-encrusted, 18-karat gold antique clock worth $425,000 from an antique show at the Merchandise Mart.

The thief grabbed the clock, which was likely made for the Sultan of Brunei, after two accomplices — a man and a woman — distracted employees near where clock was displayed, police said.

The three then made their getaway before anyone realized the clock was gone.

In a promotional video for the "British mystery clock," the piece is called "a wonder from top to bottom" and "absolutely captivating."

It happened at 3:45 p.m. on the seventh floor of the massive Merchandise Mart, which was packed with valuable antiques for the Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show.

The clock was encrusted with diamonds and mother of pearl, police said. According to CBS2, the clock was the Asprey & Company Mystery Clock worth $425,000.

That clock is made with 18-karat gold form, mother of pearl, diamonds and sapphires and was probably crafted for the Sultan of Brunei — "a man notorious for rare luxuries," according to M.S. Rau Antiques. Asprey & Company, which made the clock, makes crowns and other jewelry for royal families.

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No description of the thieves was immediately available, and police were not sure what direction the thieves went after taking the clock. Surveillance video was turned over to Chicago Police, an M.S. Rau Antiques spokeswoman told CBS2.

The Merchandise Mart was packed with valuable antiques over the weekend for the Chicago Antiques + Art + Design Show on the seventh floor.

 

This clock, worth $425,000, was likely made for the Sultan of Brunei. [Asprey & Company]