Thieves Pinched A Glam-AF, $425K Clock From The Antiques Show At Merch Mart

By Stephen Gossett in News on May 22, 2017 6:59PM

Keep your eyes peeled at the pawn shops. Somebody made off with a rare, diamond-encrusted clock—valued at $425,000—on Sunday in a brazen theft at the antiques show at the Merchandise Mart, according to police and reports.

Apparently it was a textbook distraction-theft job. Two people distracted employees at an exhibit at the Chicago Antiques, Art + Design Show at the Merchandise Mart, at around 3:45 p.m., while a third person nabbed the clock, an Asprey & Company Mystery Clock—which makes us feel like we're spending a fortune just by looking at photos.

The clock was included at a booth from M.S. Rau Antiques, a New Orleans-based, high-end antiques dealer. A spokesperson for the company said in a statement:

"Though there was security throughout the Chicago Antiques, Art + Design Show, the thieves were able to steal an incredibly rare Asprey & Co. mystery clock that is valued at $425,000. The police were immediately notified and quickly on-site. An investigation is underway. Our security footage is being reviewed by the police and we're confident that the criminals will be quickly apprehended and this wonderful timepiece returned. We're awaiting further details."

there's been a major theft at Merchandise Mart. they say a BIG ASS clock valued at more than $425,000 has been stolen. #ChicagoScanner

— Spot News (@SPOTNEWSonIG) May 21, 2017

The British-made, ridiculously fancy-pants timepiece was "almost certainly" made for the Sultan of Brunei, "a man notorious for his voracious appetite for rare luxuries," according a M.S. Rau promo video. Aside from the diamond ornamentation, the Mystery Clock also sports crystal, mother of pearl and 18k gold. We just use our phones, the utilitarian millennials we are.