Man Leaves Bar Carrying Stolen £2 Million Fabergé egg

A court has heard that a pickpocket stole a woman's handbag containing a Fabergé egg and watch valued at more than £2 million while she was having a drink at a pub in London's West End.

Enzo Conticello, 29, allegedly targeted Rosie Dawson on Bateman Street in Soho on November 7, 2024. Her bag reportedly held the high-value Fabergé egg and watch — owned by Craft Irish Whiskey Co. — along with a laptop and credit cards. The combined value of the egg and watch exceeded £2 million.

Judge Martin Griffiths commented that Conticello must have been "quite surprised" to discover the priceless item among the stolen contents. After taking the handbag, Conticello used Ms Dawson's credit card to purchase drinks, cigarettes and other items.

Conticello — who is also known as Hakim Boudjenoune and is believed to be from Algeria — was arrested by detectives in Belfast on January 26. Appearing at Southwark Crown Court in a prison tracksuit, he admitted theft and three counts of fraud by false representation. He was remanded in custody. He has not yet entered a plea to a further charge of concealing criminal property, specifically the egg and watch.

Addressing him in court, Judge Griffiths said: "I expect it was probably quite a surprise to you when you discovered that egg. What you did with it, I don't quite know, but I expect we're going to find out." A further hearing is scheduled for March 6.

In 2021, Craft Irish Whiskey Co. collaborated with Fabergé to produce a limited seven-piece whiskey collection. Each set included a 30-year-old Irish whiskey, a bespoke Fabergé Celtic Egg and an 18-carat rose-gold Altruist watch. One of the seven sets sold at auction in 2024 for $2.8 million (£2 million), setting a record for the most expensive bottle of whiskey ever sold.

It has not been confirmed whether the stolen items form part of that exclusive Celtic Egg and Altruist watch collection. Efforts by the Metropolitan Police to recover the pieces are ongoing.

The Celtic Egg is crafted from 18-carat yellow gold and adorned with a pavé diamond Celtic knot symbolising Irish heritage. Only seven were created, each featuring a different gemstone — including a Zambian emerald, Mozambican ruby, blue sapphire, amethyst, rhodolite, spessartite or tourmaline — with an uncut Zambian emerald concealed inside.

The bespoke Fabergé Altruist watch is made from 18-carat rose gold and features a mother-of-pearl dial decorated with hand-painted 24-carat gold flakes. Fabergé eggs, produced by the House of Fabergé, are famed for their intricate craftsmanship and were originally created as lavish, jewel-encrusted pieces for Russian emperors.

Whitestone Solicitors