This past auction season has seen a new record set for the most expensive watch sold to date. Swiss luxury brand Patek Philippe had the winning bid for a particular specimen, shattering all previous records. What made this particular watch so expensive? How much did it sell for? Read on to find out!
Patek Philippe is renowned for their craftsmanship and, thus, their luxurious watches have long been a coveted item of the elite. This particular watch, dubbed the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication piece, set the record for the most expensive watch ever sold – and is thus an excellent representation of the brand’s quality. The watch was crafted in 1932 and due to its 18 complications, is considered a masterpiece of horology.
The Supercomplication was auctioned off by Sotheby’s in 2014, with estimates suggesting that it would fetch between $7 and 10 million. Patek Philippe ultimately won the bid with a price of a whopping $24 million – an amount that shocked even the most experienced experts in the field, not least the exceptionally proud staff of Patek Philippe.
The watch itself is an 18-karat gold pocket watch, measuring 5 cm/2in in diameter and weighing 191.5 g/6.7 ounces. The complications included a perpetual calendar, sunrise and sunset times, a celestial chart of the New York skyline, a minute repeater, and three additional dials to show different time zones. With its intricate design and stunning attention to detail, it is quite easy to see why the watch fetched such a high price.
But this record-breaking bid was not even close to being the most expensive transaction made by the Swiss watchmaker. That honor goes to the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime ref. 6300A-010 piece, sold in a November 2019 auction in Geneva for just shy of US$31 million - considerably more than the Supercomplication.
It comes as no surprise that Patek Philippe watches are some of the most sought-after timepieces in the world. Their high quality and craftsmanship make them incredibly desirable, and the record-breaking bids for their special edition watches attest to their desirability. If you’re after a watch that is sure to get some attention, Patek Philippe is guaranteed to satisfy. Here’s to hoping that the next record-breaker comes with a slightly more reasonable price tag!
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