On October 5, 2011, Steve Jobs died due to complications caused by a pancreatic tumor. The man made Apple a household name and was rarely seen on stage without his black turtleneck. This article of clothing was simple but is probably more iconic than Mario’s red and white monogrammed hat. And now you can own part of the turtleneck — for a hefty fee.
Caviar, a company known for selling luxury iPhones, recently announced the Apple 50th Anniversary Collection, which consists of three phones. Two of these products are custom black iPhone 17 Pros, but the third is a throwback to the original iPhone with part of Jobs’ sweater woven into the case. No, it’s not the big black rectangle on the back of the phone where you can find Jobs’ signature etched into the case. You see that tiny black square in the center of the Apple logo? That’s the piece of the turtleneck that allegedly makes this phone so special.
According to Caviar, this shred of fabric came from the turtleneck that Jobs wore when he introduced the NeXT computer to audiences in 1988. Why the company picked the clothing Jobs wore when he introduced one of his biggest product failures, and not, say, the turtleneck he wore when he introduced the first iPhone is anyone’s guess. In fact, if you watch the video of the NeXT computer reveal, it doesn’t look like Jobs is wearing a turtleneck. Maybe it was under his suit? But Caviar claims the fabric was authenticated, so we’ll just have to take its word for it.
This phone will cost you an arm and a leg
Caviar’s Jobs iPhone isn’t the first example of Steve Jobs’ personal effects being sold as memorabilia. His 1973 job application fetched $50,000 at an auction, but while this phone isn’t anywhere near as expensive as that item, it is still far and above one of the priciest functional Apple products available.
Caviar is selling two versions of the custom phone: An iPhone 17 Pro variant and an iPhone 17 Pro Max model. Both can ship with either 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB of memory. At the “cheapest” (the 256 GB iPhone 17 Pro), this phone will set you back $9,630, whereas the iPhone 17 Pro Max 2 TB version costs a monumental $11,560. Delivery is free, but taxes and customs duties aren’t covered in the cost; the latter can add anywhere between $40 to $200 depending on your country. Oh, and you will have to wait somewhere between one week and four months to receive your phone — after Caviar officially completes production.
Each copy of this phone includes a certificate of authenticity and a one-year warranty. However, since the device is a “museum-worthy collector’s piece” (Caviar’s words, not ours), it might be better left at home where it is safe. That way it can remain the golden apple of your collection for years if not decades.
