PATEK PHILIPPE
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Time pieces Patek Philippe < 1950 Perpetual calendar World time Clocks OnlyWatch New watches
Chronology : 1933 1989 2010-2019 2021
See also : Time pieces Patek Philippe < 1950 Perpetual calendar World time Clocks OnlyWatch New watches
Chronology : 1933 1989 2010-2019 2021
1933 Supercomplication
2014 SOLD for CHF 23.2M by Sotheby's
Patek Philippe knew to listen to their wealthy private clients. The Geneva brand remains for that reason since over a century the pioneer of miniaturization accompanied by an increasing number of complications in pocket watches and later in wristwatches.
By 1900, the Palmer specimen was a pocket watch with minute repeater, months, days of the week, split-second chronograph, grande and petite sonnerie and the phases of the moon.
James Ward Packard, the car industrialist, was one of the most demanding customers of Patek Philippe. In 1916, he obtained a pocket watch with sixteen complications, and in 1927 he had a celestial chart added to nine other complications in a single watch.
When Packard died in 1928, the New York banker Henry Graves Jr. had already ordered the world's most complicated pocket watch, with 24 complications divided into two dials including the night time sky from New York City.
Completed in 1932, the Supercomplication is a unique piece for which Patek Philippe had mobilized their best specialists. The assembly of its 920 components in a case 74 mm in diameter and 36 mm thick is a technical feat that will remain unmatched until the era of computer-aided design.
The Supercomplication was delivered to Graves on 19 January 1933 for CHF 60K, nearly five times the price of the ultimate Packard watch. It was sold by Sotheby's for $ 11M on December 2, 1999 and for CHF 23.2M on November 11, 2014, lot 345. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
By 1900, the Palmer specimen was a pocket watch with minute repeater, months, days of the week, split-second chronograph, grande and petite sonnerie and the phases of the moon.
James Ward Packard, the car industrialist, was one of the most demanding customers of Patek Philippe. In 1916, he obtained a pocket watch with sixteen complications, and in 1927 he had a celestial chart added to nine other complications in a single watch.
When Packard died in 1928, the New York banker Henry Graves Jr. had already ordered the world's most complicated pocket watch, with 24 complications divided into two dials including the night time sky from New York City.
Completed in 1932, the Supercomplication is a unique piece for which Patek Philippe had mobilized their best specialists. The assembly of its 920 components in a case 74 mm in diameter and 36 mm thick is a technical feat that will remain unmatched until the era of computer-aided design.
The Supercomplication was delivered to Graves on 19 January 1933 for CHF 60K, nearly five times the price of the ultimate Packard watch. It was sold by Sotheby's for $ 11M on December 2, 1999 and for CHF 23.2M on November 11, 2014, lot 345. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Reference 1518
Intro
During the 1930s Patek Philippe masters all the complications and most of their combinations. The brand's effort to make new prototypes and to add new high-end references to its catalog is not interrupted by the war.
The reference 130, launched commercially in 1934, is a single-push chronograph using the calibre 13. It is equipped with two subsidiary dials, one indicating the seconds up to the minute and the other the minutes up to the half hour. Produced from 1940, the reference 1491 is a watch without chronograph with a more elegant design than the already classic Calatrava.
Released in 1941, the reference 1518 introduces commercially a tantalizing combination of complications. In production from 1941 to 1954, it is the first commercial wristwatch from any brand to offer altogether these two appealing complications which are the chronograph and the perpetual calendar, in addition to the moon phases.
The 1518 is ahead of its time and appeals the elite. 281 watches are built in this reference which is an average of 20 per year. The list of customers includes the kings of Egypt, Jordan and Romania and the boxing champion Sugar Ray Robinson, and also the all time top collector Henry Graves Jr.
Most 1518s are in yellow gold, plus an estimated 58 in pink gold. A pink gold example made in 1948 was sold for CHF 1.47M by Phillips on November 13, 2016, lot 196.
The reference 130, launched commercially in 1934, is a single-push chronograph using the calibre 13. It is equipped with two subsidiary dials, one indicating the seconds up to the minute and the other the minutes up to the half hour. Produced from 1940, the reference 1491 is a watch without chronograph with a more elegant design than the already classic Calatrava.
Released in 1941, the reference 1518 introduces commercially a tantalizing combination of complications. In production from 1941 to 1954, it is the first commercial wristwatch from any brand to offer altogether these two appealing complications which are the chronograph and the perpetual calendar, in addition to the moon phases.
The 1518 is ahead of its time and appeals the elite. 281 watches are built in this reference which is an average of 20 per year. The list of customers includes the kings of Egypt, Jordan and Romania and the boxing champion Sugar Ray Robinson, and also the all time top collector Henry Graves Jr.
Most 1518s are in yellow gold, plus an estimated 58 in pink gold. A pink gold example made in 1948 was sold for CHF 1.47M by Phillips on November 13, 2016, lot 196.
1
1943 Stainless Steel
2016 SOLD for CHF 11M by Phillips
Until the second world war and a little beyond, the use of stainless steel is exceptional in the high-end wristwatches made by Patek Philippe. Owners identify luxury with gold or platinum. Steel watches are produced on special request from customers who fear some wearing related to their own heavy use.
The 1518 in stainless steel are extremely rare : only four are known. This is not really surprising : we must indeed recognize some contradiction between the need for a perpetual calendar and the fear of wear.
The first two 1518 in stainless steel were manufactured in 1943 and sold together to a same customer in February of the next year. One of them remaining in an immaculate condition had probably been intended by him as a spare. It was sold for CHF 11M from a lower estimate of CHF 3M by Phillips on November 12, 2016, lot 38.
The 1518 in stainless steel are extremely rare : only four are known. This is not really surprising : we must indeed recognize some contradiction between the need for a perpetual calendar and the fear of wear.
The first two 1518 in stainless steel were manufactured in 1943 and sold together to a same customer in February of the next year. One of them remaining in an immaculate condition had probably been intended by him as a spare. It was sold for CHF 11M from a lower estimate of CHF 3M by Phillips on November 12, 2016, lot 38.
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1948 Pink on Pink
2021 SOLD for $ 9.6M by Sotheby's
An immaculate one-owner Patek Philippe wristwatch reference 1518 was sold for $ 9.6M from a lower estimate of $ 1.2M by Sotheby's on December 9, 2021, lot 55.
This watch made in 1948 was sold in 1951 to a first cousin of King Farouk. Previously unknown, it was discovered as a completely original time capsule in a safety deposit box after the recent death of the prince. It is still accompanied by its presentation case, certificate of origin and operating instructions to adjust the calendar.
This 1518 is in the very rare pink on pink configuration, specially designed for a warm tone effect associating a pink dial to the 18k pink gold of the case. 13 other examples are known. Most of the other pink gold 1518s have a silvered dial.
This watch made in 1948 was sold in 1951 to a first cousin of King Farouk. Previously unknown, it was discovered as a completely original time capsule in a safety deposit box after the recent death of the prince. It is still accompanied by its presentation case, certificate of origin and operating instructions to adjust the calendar.
This 1518 is in the very rare pink on pink configuration, specially designed for a warm tone effect associating a pink dial to the 18k pink gold of the case. 13 other examples are known. Most of the other pink gold 1518s have a silvered dial.
Reference 2523
Intro
Patek Philippe began in 1937 to assemble World Time watches (Heures Universelles, HU) with the movement patented and supplied by Louis Cottier, without obtaining an exclusivity. A ring marked from 0 to 23 rotates counter clockwise in synchronisation with the hands. Another ring identifies about 40 cities or places. The time everywhere around the world is read directly by the position of these inscriptions in front of the rotating ring.
After the ephemeral 96 HU and 515 HU references used by Patek Philippe in the development phase, the reference 1415 HU released in 1939 marks a stabilization of that offer. 115 pieces were made. A 1415 made in 1949 with the Eurasia cloisonné enamel dial (HU DE subvariant) was sold for CHF 970K by Phillips on May 13, 2018, lot 268.
In 1953 the reference 2523 replaces the 1415 after a modification of the Cottier calibre associated with a dual crown enabling to change the reference setting of the time zone. The 2523 is a luxury watch, most often equipped with an enamelled dial. The case embedding the double crown is a technical feat. Two batches were produced in two ranges of movement numbers for a possible high total of 5 + 20 watches or slightly more.
Only four 2523 are known from the first 1953 batch of movements. Three are fitted with an Eurasia cloisonné enamel dial and the fourth is a guilloché. The Eurasia design is a reuse from one of the dials of the 1415 in flat colors. The graduation of the enamel colors of the 2523 is arguably unprecedented.
The second 1953 batch was fitted with North America, South America, enamel blue and guilloché dials, with no Eurasia added.
The 2523 is in turn replaced in 1957 by its variant 2523-1 with a simplification of the lugs and a metal dial. The production of HU movements ceases in 1965.
After the ephemeral 96 HU and 515 HU references used by Patek Philippe in the development phase, the reference 1415 HU released in 1939 marks a stabilization of that offer. 115 pieces were made. A 1415 made in 1949 with the Eurasia cloisonné enamel dial (HU DE subvariant) was sold for CHF 970K by Phillips on May 13, 2018, lot 268.
In 1953 the reference 2523 replaces the 1415 after a modification of the Cottier calibre associated with a dual crown enabling to change the reference setting of the time zone. The 2523 is a luxury watch, most often equipped with an enamelled dial. The case embedding the double crown is a technical feat. Two batches were produced in two ranges of movement numbers for a possible high total of 5 + 20 watches or slightly more.
Only four 2523 are known from the first 1953 batch of movements. Three are fitted with an Eurasia cloisonné enamel dial and the fourth is a guilloché. The Eurasia design is a reuse from one of the dials of the 1415 in flat colors. The graduation of the enamel colors of the 2523 is arguably unprecedented.
The second 1953 batch was fitted with North America, South America, enamel blue and guilloché dials, with no Eurasia added.
The 2523 is in turn replaced in 1957 by its variant 2523-1 with a simplification of the lugs and a metal dial. The production of HU movements ceases in 1965.
1
1953 Eurasia in Yellow Gold
2024 SOLD for HK$ 65M by Christie's
Three 2523 from the first 1953 batch of movements are fitted with an Eurasia cloisonné enamel dial. The Eurasia design is a reuse from one of the dials of the 1415 in flat colors. The graduation of the enamel colors of the 2523 is arguably unprecedented.
The second 1953 batch was fitted with North America, South America, enamel blue and guilloché dials, with no Eurasia added.
A 2523 from the first batch with the 18k yellow gold case and the Eurasia cloisonné dial was sold by Antiquorum for CHF 1.76M on October 19, 2002, lot 24 and for HK $ 65M by Christie's on May 26, 2024, lot 2256. Its dial was made in 1952 by Stern, the movement in 1953 by Gerlach and the case in 1954-1955.
Another one of the three Eurasia 2523s is a new discovery. It has the lowest case number in the whole 2523 reference and the lowest movement number associated with a 2523 Eurasia dial. It was sold for CHF 7M by Phillips on May 8, 2021, lot 33. Please watch the video shared by Phillips where the features of this masterpiece are narrated in details by Aurel Bacs.
The third surviving example of 2523 Eurasia is kept in the Patek Philippe museum.
The second 1953 batch was fitted with North America, South America, enamel blue and guilloché dials, with no Eurasia added.
A 2523 from the first batch with the 18k yellow gold case and the Eurasia cloisonné dial was sold by Antiquorum for CHF 1.76M on October 19, 2002, lot 24 and for HK $ 65M by Christie's on May 26, 2024, lot 2256. Its dial was made in 1952 by Stern, the movement in 1953 by Gerlach and the case in 1954-1955.
Another one of the three Eurasia 2523s is a new discovery. It has the lowest case number in the whole 2523 reference and the lowest movement number associated with a 2523 Eurasia dial. It was sold for CHF 7M by Phillips on May 8, 2021, lot 33. Please watch the video shared by Phillips where the features of this masterpiece are narrated in details by Aurel Bacs.
The third surviving example of 2523 Eurasia is kept in the Patek Philippe museum.
2
1953-1954 Ocean Blue in Pink Gold
2019 SOLD for HK$ 70M by Christie's
A pink gold 2523 in excellent condition without any sign of repair surfaced in 2010. It was twice sold by Christie's, for CHF 2.7M on November 15, 2010, lot 114, and for HK$ 70M on November 23, 2019, lot 2201. Please watch the video prepared by the auction house.
The dial and movement were made in 1953 and the case in 1954. The centre of its dial is not in cloisonné but is monochrome in a beautifully translucent ocean blue enamel. The watch was sold to Gobbi in Milan in 1957. It is the only 2523 to have on its dial a double signature of Patek Philippe and a retailer, a feature that is today eagerly sought after by watch collectors. The movement is from the second 2523 batch.
The dial and movement were made in 1953 and the case in 1954. The centre of its dial is not in cloisonné but is monochrome in a beautifully translucent ocean blue enamel. The watch was sold to Gobbi in Milan in 1957. It is the only 2523 to have on its dial a double signature of Patek Philippe and a retailer, a feature that is today eagerly sought after by watch collectors. The movement is from the second 2523 batch.
3
1955 North America in Yellow Gold
2023 SOLD for HK$ 67M by Christie's
Three known watches from the second 2523 batch have been cased in 18k yellow gold with the North America cloisonné enamel dial, also featuring Central America and Cuba.
In an exceptional original condition, one of them made in 1955 was sold by Christie's for CHF 2.77M on May 14, 2012, lot 88, and for HK $ 67M on May 28, 2023, lot 2361.
This example illustrated the front catalogue cover of the prestigious sale by Habsburg Feldman on April 9, 1989 in Geneva, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the brand, where it was listed as lot 294.
In an exceptional original condition, one of them made in 1955 was sold by Christie's for CHF 2.77M on May 14, 2012, lot 88, and for HK $ 67M on May 28, 2023, lot 2361.
This example illustrated the front catalogue cover of the prestigious sale by Habsburg Feldman on April 9, 1989 in Geneva, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the brand, where it was listed as lot 294.
1957 Reference 2499
2022 SOLD for HK$ 60M by Sotheby's
Two references of wristwatches with perpetual calendar and moon phases were introduced nearly simultaneously in the early 1950s. The 2499 is a chronograph and the 2497 has the centre seconds. Their cases are similar except that the 2497 does not have the push button of the chronograph. At that time, no other manufacturer was able to produce a wristwatch with such a complication.
These models were assembled gradually over a very long time. The total production of the 2499 is 349 units from 1950 to 1985. The 2497 is even rarer : 115 units, from 1951 to 1963, or 179 units when adding its waterproof version 2438/1. 2497 and 2499 were available in the three golds and in platinum.
2497 and 2499 were available in the three golds and in platinum. The first cases were basically manufactured by Emile Vichet.
The special 2497 made in 1954 for Haile Selassie was sold by Christie's for CHF 2.9M on May 15, 2017, lot 166. Made in the same year in white gold, a 2497 was sold by Phillips for CHF 2.8M on November 5, 2021, lot 122. Also manufactured in 1954, a unique 2497 in platinum was sold for CHF 3.2M by Christie's on May 12, 2008, lot 187.
The first series of the 2499 had square chronograph buttons and applied Arabic numerals.
The second series has round buttons and baton or Arabic numerals. From that series, nine units are known in pink gold.
One of them made in 1957 and retailed in 1958 was sold for CHF 2.74M by Christie's on May 14, 2007, lot 158, and for HK $ 60M by Sotheby's on April 25, 2022, lot 2018. Signed by Gobbi Milano in the Moon phase subdial, it is the only pink gold 2499 2nd series to have the mark of a retailer. It is in a very original condition and has baton numerals.
These models were assembled gradually over a very long time. The total production of the 2499 is 349 units from 1950 to 1985. The 2497 is even rarer : 115 units, from 1951 to 1963, or 179 units when adding its waterproof version 2438/1. 2497 and 2499 were available in the three golds and in platinum.
2497 and 2499 were available in the three golds and in platinum. The first cases were basically manufactured by Emile Vichet.
The special 2497 made in 1954 for Haile Selassie was sold by Christie's for CHF 2.9M on May 15, 2017, lot 166. Made in the same year in white gold, a 2497 was sold by Phillips for CHF 2.8M on November 5, 2021, lot 122. Also manufactured in 1954, a unique 2497 in platinum was sold for CHF 3.2M by Christie's on May 12, 2008, lot 187.
The first series of the 2499 had square chronograph buttons and applied Arabic numerals.
The second series has round buttons and baton or Arabic numerals. From that series, nine units are known in pink gold.
One of them made in 1957 and retailed in 1958 was sold for CHF 2.74M by Christie's on May 14, 2007, lot 158, and for HK $ 60M by Sotheby's on April 25, 2022, lot 2018. Signed by Gobbi Milano in the Moon phase subdial, it is the only pink gold 2499 2nd series to have the mark of a retailer. It is in a very original condition and has baton numerals.
sold by Christie's for OnlyWatch
1
2019 6300A-010
2019 SOLD for CHF 31M
In 2014, for celebrating the 175th anniversary of the brand, Patek Philippe release their first Grandmaster Chime wristwatch under the reference 5175 edited in seven units. Its 20 functions required 1,366 components for the movement and 215 components for the case, surpassing the 6200 Sky Moon Tourbillon. It is the achievement of 60,000 hours of development over seven years.
The 5175 is 48 mm in diameter and 16 mm in height with 11 pushers and buttons. Its central mechanism activates in parallel the visual reading on two dials including the perpetual calendar, the chimes of hours, quarters, minutes and day, and the acoustic alarm preselected with an accuracy of a quarter of an hour. The running time of the mechanical winding is 72 hours in silent mode and 30 hours in grande sonnerie.
Two of these applications are unprecedented : the insertion of an alarm in a wristwatch, and the audible indication of the day in the month in two digits covering 1 to 31 by the tens and units. The watch also strikes on demand the current hour and minute. A security prevents the user from operating two mechanisms at the same time if they are not compatible.
The reference 6300G in gray gold launched in 2016 is similar to the 5175 except that the references to the celebration have been removed.
The Only Watch charity sale is held every second year since 2005 for the benefit of the research on the Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The 2019 auction was managed by Christie's in Geneva on November 9.
According to the rules applicable to this operation, each manufacturer offers a watch for which it guarantees that it is and will remain a one-off. On that year Patek Philippe supplied the unique copy of Grandmaster Chime in stainless steel, reference 6300A-010, lot 28. The steel improves the sound. It is inscribed "The Only One" on one of the dials. It was sold for CHF 31M.
The lot included a one-day private tour of the workshops and museum for two people and a lunch with Thierry Stern, president of Patek Philippe.
The 5175 is 48 mm in diameter and 16 mm in height with 11 pushers and buttons. Its central mechanism activates in parallel the visual reading on two dials including the perpetual calendar, the chimes of hours, quarters, minutes and day, and the acoustic alarm preselected with an accuracy of a quarter of an hour. The running time of the mechanical winding is 72 hours in silent mode and 30 hours in grande sonnerie.
Two of these applications are unprecedented : the insertion of an alarm in a wristwatch, and the audible indication of the day in the month in two digits covering 1 to 31 by the tens and units. The watch also strikes on demand the current hour and minute. A security prevents the user from operating two mechanisms at the same time if they are not compatible.
The reference 6300G in gray gold launched in 2016 is similar to the 5175 except that the references to the celebration have been removed.
The Only Watch charity sale is held every second year since 2005 for the benefit of the research on the Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The 2019 auction was managed by Christie's in Geneva on November 9.
According to the rules applicable to this operation, each manufacturer offers a watch for which it guarantees that it is and will remain a one-off. On that year Patek Philippe supplied the unique copy of Grandmaster Chime in stainless steel, reference 6300A-010, lot 28. The steel improves the sound. It is inscribed "The Only One" on one of the dials. It was sold for CHF 31M.
The lot included a one-day private tour of the workshops and museum for two people and a lunch with Thierry Stern, president of Patek Philippe.
2
2021 Desk Clock
2021 SOLD for CHF 9.5M
Patek Philippe made a bang in the 2019 OnlyWatch charity auction with the unique example of the model 6300A-010 that fetched CHF 31M. It is derived from the Grandmaster Chime which is the most complicated wristwatch in their catalogue.
To go forward in 2021, the brand cleverly offered a clock that will not invite for a comparison with the 2019 entry.
This item is a modern version of an Art Déco desk clock made by them in 1923 for the demanding customer James Ward Packard which is kept in the Patek Philippe Museum. Henry Graves Jr managed to have a similar time piece. The Packard complicated clock was equipped with a perpetual calendar and moon phases with an eight-day power reserve. It is made of silver with solid-gold feet and inlays.
The OnlyWatch clock is the unique example of the 27001M-01 model. The angular shape with a hinged lid of this 165 x 125 x 76 mm instrument has no equivalent in the modern catalogues of the brand.
It features a perpetual calendar, moon phases, day-night indicator, week-number display and has a power reserve of 31 days and a precision rate of 1 second per day. The case and the cabinet are in sterling silver with vermeil decorative elements and American walnut inlays. In an additional exquisite refinement the dial is in a similar yellow gilt opaline hue as the 6300 of 2019.
The hammer was entrusted to Christie's on November 6, 2021. The Patek Philippe desk clock was sold for CHF 9.5M, lot 41. Please watch the video shared by Watch I love.
To go forward in 2021, the brand cleverly offered a clock that will not invite for a comparison with the 2019 entry.
This item is a modern version of an Art Déco desk clock made by them in 1923 for the demanding customer James Ward Packard which is kept in the Patek Philippe Museum. Henry Graves Jr managed to have a similar time piece. The Packard complicated clock was equipped with a perpetual calendar and moon phases with an eight-day power reserve. It is made of silver with solid-gold feet and inlays.
The OnlyWatch clock is the unique example of the 27001M-01 model. The angular shape with a hinged lid of this 165 x 125 x 76 mm instrument has no equivalent in the modern catalogues of the brand.
It features a perpetual calendar, moon phases, day-night indicator, week-number display and has a power reserve of 31 days and a precision rate of 1 second per day. The case and the cabinet are in sterling silver with vermeil decorative elements and American walnut inlays. In an additional exquisite refinement the dial is in a similar yellow gilt opaline hue as the 6300 of 2019.
The hammer was entrusted to Christie's on November 6, 2021. The Patek Philippe desk clock was sold for CHF 9.5M, lot 41. Please watch the video shared by Watch I love.
3
2024 6301A
2024 SOLD for CHF 15.7M
Philippe Dufour had been the pioneer of the integration of the grande and petite sonnerie and of the minute repeater, in a single pocket watch in 1989 and in a wristwatch in 1992.
The platinum wristwatch reference 6301P released in 2020 by Patek Philippe offers the same grandes complications. It integrates 703 components and its dial is in Grand Feu black enamel. Patents apply to are linked to the striking mechanism and to the jumping small seconds mechanism. The winding is manual. Its original price was CHF 1,150,000 including fees.
For the 2024 OnlyWatch Patek Philippe donated a unique similar watch in steel dated in that year, reference 6301A-010. It was sold for 15.7M from a lower estimate of CHF 1.5M, lot 32. The sale was operated by Christie's in Geneva on May 10, 2024.
This piece has a Grand Feu blue green enamel hand guilloché dial with a swirling pattern set with 12 baguette-cut diamond hour markers.
The platinum wristwatch reference 6301P released in 2020 by Patek Philippe offers the same grandes complications. It integrates 703 components and its dial is in Grand Feu black enamel. Patents apply to are linked to the striking mechanism and to the jumping small seconds mechanism. The winding is manual. Its original price was CHF 1,150,000 including fees.
For the 2024 OnlyWatch Patek Philippe donated a unique similar watch in steel dated in that year, reference 6301A-010. It was sold for 15.7M from a lower estimate of CHF 1.5M, lot 32. The sale was operated by Christie's in Geneva on May 10, 2024.
This piece has a Grand Feu blue green enamel hand guilloché dial with a swirling pattern set with 12 baguette-cut diamond hour markers.