On October 5, 2011, Steve Jobs passed away as a result of complications from a pancreatic tumor. The individual propelled Apple into fame and was seldom spotted on stage without his signature black turtleneck. This piece of apparel was unadorned yet is arguably more recognizable than Mario’s red-and-white branded cap. Now, you have the opportunity to possess a portion of the turtleneck — for a considerable price.
Caviar, a brand renowned for its luxury iPhones, has recently unveiled the Apple 50th Anniversary Collection, which features three phones. Two of these devices are customized black iPhone 17 Pros, while the third pays homage to the original iPhone by incorporating part of Jobs’ sweater into the casing. No, it isn’t the large black rectangle on the phone’s back featuring Jobs’ signature inscribed into the case. That small black square at the heart of the Apple logo? That’s the fragment of the turtleneck that supposedly makes this phone extraordinary.
According to Caviar, this sliver of fabric originated from the turtleneck that Jobs was donned in when he unveiled the NeXT computer to audiences in 1988. The reasoning behind the company selecting the attire Jobs wore for one of his major product failures, instead of, say, the turtleneck he sported during the original iPhone launch, remains unclear. In fact, if you view the video of the NeXT computer launch, it appears Jobs is not wearing a turtleneck. Perhaps it was beneath his suit? Yet, Caviar asserts that the fabric has been authenticated, so we must take their word for it.
This phone will come with a hefty price tag
Caviar’s Jobs iPhone is not the premiere instance of Steve Jobs’ personal belongings being marketed as collectibles. His 1973 job application sold for $50,000 at auction, although this phone does not come close to that valuation, it is still significantly one of the most expensive operational Apple products on the market.
Caviar offers two variations of the customized phone: an iPhone 17 Pro version and an iPhone 17 Pro Max variant. Both can be ordered with either 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB of storage. At the “lowest” price point (the 256 GB iPhone 17 Pro), this device will cost you $9,630, whereas the iPhone 17 Pro Max 2 TB model reaches an impressive $11,560. Delivery is complimentary, but taxes and customs fees are not included in the price; the latter can range from $40 to $200, depending on your location. Additionally, you will have to wait somewhere between one week and four months to receive your phone after Caviar has completely finished production.
Each unit of this phone comes with a certificate of authenticity and a one-year warranty. However, since the device is deemed a “museum-worthy collector’s item” (these are Caviar’s words, not ours), it might be wiser to keep it at home where it remains protected. This way, it can be the cherished centerpiece of your collection for many years, if not decades.