Phil
577
Most expensive Patek timepieces sold at auction
COurtesy of Patek Philippe, July 2004
The most expensive Patek Philippe timepieces sold at auction
- The following record bids achieved at major auction sales exceeded US$1 million (over Sfr. 1.5 million).
- This ranking is based on prices in U.S. dollars. As most auctions took place in Switzerland and original bids were made in Swiss francs, a separate ranking of prices in Swiss francs appears between brackets, if different from the one in dollars.
- The prices indicated include the final bid price plus the auctioneer?s commission.
- The currency exchange rates used are those indicated by the auction houses, namely the average buying/selling rate of the sale date or the preceding business day.
- The number appearing under the details of the sale is the movement number of the timepiece sold.
1
US$ 11,002,500
CHF 17?191?500
2 December 1999
Sotheby?s, New York
No. 198?385 The ?Graves? : super-complicated pocket watch which belonged to the New York watch collector Henry Graves, Jr. Manufactured between 1928 and 1933, this exceptional timepiece features 24 complications and is today on display at the PATEK PHILIPPE MUSEUM in Geneva.
All-time world record for all watches.
2 US$ 5,002,652
CHF 6'603?500
24 April 2004
Antiquorum, Geneva ?Caliber 89? in white gold, astronomic pocket watch featuring 33 watch complications, which required 9 years of research and development. Only 4 versions exist. The prototype is on display at the PATEK PHILIPPE MUSEUM in Geneva.
Second all-time world record for all watches.
3 US$ 4,026,524
CHF 6'603?500 (2)
14 April 2002
Antiquorum, Geneva
No. 929?693 World Time wristwatch in platinum (Ref. 1415 HU), indicating the names of 41 cities, regions and countries of the world on the rotating bezel.
Made in 1946 and sold in 1950.
All-time world record for wristwatches.
Third world record for all timepieces.
4 US$ 3,200,000
CHF 4'950?000 (3)
9 April 1989
Antiquorum, Geneva ?Caliber 89? in yellow gold, astronomic pocket watch featuring 33 watch complications, which required 9 years of research and development.
Record published in the 2000 edition of the Guinness Book of Records.
Former world record for all timepieces.
5 US$ 2,481,000
CHF 3'920'000 (4)
9 June 2002
Antiquorum,
Hong Kong
No. 80?897 The ?Gradowski?, pocket watch in 18K rose gold with Grand Complication, with minute repeater, small and grand strikes, perpetual calendar, age and phases of the moon, chronograph and center counter.
Made in 1890, it was then the most complicated Patek Philippe watch.
Fourth all-time world record for pocket watches.
All-time record for Asia.
6 US$ 2,129,000
CHF 3'193'500 (5)
19 October 2002
Antiquorum, Geneva
No. 868?248 18K rose gold wristwatch, chronograph with rectangular pushpieces, 30-minute counter at 3 o?clock and pulsometer, perpetual calendar and moon phases. Made in 1951.
Second world record for wristwatches.
7 US$ 1,918,387
CHF 2'973'500 (7)
14 November 1999
Antiquorum, Geneva
No. 124?824 18K yellow gold wristwatch, split-seconds chronograph with square pushpiece, white enameled dial with Breguet numerals.
Made in 1923. Record published in the Guinness Book of Records.
Third world record for wristwatches.
8 US$ 1,911,770
CHF 3'083'500 (6)
12 November 2001
Phillips, Geneva
No. 864?471 18K yellow gold wristwatch with moon phases (Ref. 1591). The oldest perpetual calendar with center seconds manufactured by Patek Philippe.
Made in 1944 and sold in 1945 to former Yugoslav President Tito.
Fourth world record for wristwatches.
9 US$ 1,779,573
CHF 2'918'500 (8)
14 April 2002
Antiquorum, Geneva
No. 863?540 18K white gold wristwatch (Ref. 130), chronograph with 30-minute counter at 3 o?clock and tachometer.
Made in 1944, it was sold in 1945 for 800 Swiss francs.
10 US$ 1,779,080
CHF 2'252'000 (11)
18 May 2004
Christie?s, Geneva
No. 198?427 Very rare pocket chronometer in platinum (Ref. 811), made especially for New York watch collector Henry Graves, Jr. Stunning one-minute tourbillon watch with Guillaume balance, fitted in a circular heavy-hinged case engraved with the Graves coat of arms and motto Esse Quam Videri (To be rather than to seem).
Made in 1930 and sold in 1948.
11 US$ 1,678,963
CHF 2'753'500 (9)
13 April 2002
Antiquorum, Geneva
No. 964?804 World Time wristwatch in 18K rose gold (Ref. 1415 HU), indicating the names of 41 cities, regions and countries of the world on the rotating bezel, with cloisonn? enamel dial depicting four continents.
Made in 1949.
12 US$ 1,669,318
CHF 2'203'500 (12)
24 April 2004
Antiquorum, Geneva
No. 862?323 Over-sized wristwatch in Staybrite steel (Ref. 530), superb chronograph in the Art Deco style, with 30-minute counter at 3 o?clock and tachometer.
Made in 1939.
The world?s most expensive steel wristwatch.
13 US$ 1,658,730
CHF 2'090'000 (15)
20 April 1996
Antiquorum, Geneva
No. 198?340 Calatrava wristwatch in platinum (Ref. 541) with minute repeater, perpetual calendar and moon phases.
Made in 1939. Former record published in the 2000 edition of the Guinness Book of Records.
14 US$ 1,593,396
CHF 2'533?500 (10)
13 May 2002
Phillips, Geneva
No. 863?791 18K yellow gold wristwatch (Ref. 1563), split-seconds chronograph with counter and tachometer, featuring round pushpieces.
Made in 1946, it was sold in 1948 to Duke Ellington.
This reference was only made in two versions.
15 US$ 1,549,300
CHF 2'029?600 (16)
12 May 2003
Sotheby?s, Geneva
No. 198?297 Wristwatch in platinum with triple date (day and month in apertures, concentric date) and moon phases. Two-tone dial.
Made in 1929.
16 US$ 1,445,470
CHF 2'102'200 (13)
18 November 2002
Phillips, Geneva
No. 868?338 18K rose gold wristwatch (Ref. 2499), chronograph with rectangular pushpieces, 30-minute counter at 3 o?clock and tachometer, perpetual calendar and moon phases.
Made in 1952.
17 US$ 1,175,700
CHF 1'763?500 (19)
19 October 2002
Antiquorum, Geneva
No. 720?304 World Time wristwatch in 18K yellow gold (Ref. 2523-1 HU), with two crowns, indicating the names of 41 cities, regions and countries of the world on the rotating bezel, with cloisonn? enamel dial.
Made in 1953/54.
18 US$ 1,169,555
CHF 2'093?500 (14)
19 November 2000
Antiquorum, Geneva
No. 929?693 18K yellow gold Calatrava wristwatch (Ref. 1505), with triple date apertures.
Unique piece made in 1941.
19 US$ 1,129,500
CHF 1'818?500 (17)
11 November 2001
Antiquorum, Geneva
No. 198?101 Over-sized wristwatch in Staybrite steel, with single pushpiece chronograph, counter and pulsometer on the dial (Ref. 130), in the pure Art Deco style.
Made in 1937.
Second most expensive steel wristwatch.
20 US$ 1,102,500
CHF 1'642'725 (22)
20 June 1998
Antiquorum, New York
No. 799?000 18K yellow gold wristwatch (Ref. 3449), with perpetual calendar and moon phases. Only three versions exist.
Made in 1961.
21 US$ 1,066,774
CHF 1'653?500 (21)
14 November 1999
Antiquorum, Geneva
No. 868?605 18K rose gold wristwatch (Ref. 2499), chronograph with round pushpieces, perpetual calendar, moon phases and tachometer.
Made in 1960.
22 US$ 1,050,750
CHF 1'765?260 (18)
21 February 2001
Sotheby?s, New York
No. 722?714 World Time wristwatch (Ref. 2523 HU) in 18K rose gold, with two crowns, indicating the names of 41 cities, regions and countries of the world on the rotating bezel, with a blue translucent enamel dial.
Made in 1953.
23 US$ 1,012,450
CHF 1'659'750 (20)
13 November 2001
Christie?s, Geneva
No. 799?002 18K yellow gold wristwatch (Ref. 3449), with perpetual calendar and moon phases. Only three versions exist.
Made in 1961.
24 US$ 991'070
CHF 1'598'500 (23)
12 November 2001
Phillips, Geneva
No. 888?029 Platinum wristwatch and original platinum bracelet (Ref. 2497), with perpetual calendar, moon phases, center seconds, dial with diamond markers.
Unique piece made in 1953.