For everyone with horological interests, the name Patek Philippe watches holds a special meaning. The watchmaker which is known for some of the most exquisite and expensive timepieces, has gone on to attract attention to itself for its unique designs, and also its novelty value as we see here. The following provides details of the most expensive timepieces from Patek Philippe.
Price: $11 million
As the name suggests, this Patek Philippe watch came to known for its super complicated functions and working mechanism, including the 24 separate complications. The timepiece was created on order of Mr. Henry Graves Jr., who wished to outdo his competitor for owning the most complicated watch known. The watch has been created with 24 carat yellow gold, has a 74 mm thick diameter, 36 mm glass cover and 2 faces which display the 24 complications of the timepiece.
Price: $5.63 million
This timepiece apart from being a signature watch from Patek Philippe watches collection, came to be known for its existence during the historic World War era and also for being one of the largest sized wristwatches of that generation, which by today’s standards is of a medium size. Other than the history itself the watch has plenty of notable features such as 18K yellow gold chassis, 23 gemstone entrustments, 37 mm dial, bi-metallic compensation balance, silvered matte dial, applied gold Arab numerals, date and moon phase indicators, railway track design minute markings, amongst others. Since it belonged to an era much before today, the usage of technology was a rarity, hence making the watch such a coveted asset.
Price: $5 million
This Patek Philippe watch became famous for a number of reasons, and one of them was being the most complicated ever known with 33 different complications. Launched to celebrate the brand’s 150th anniversary, the watch stood apart in every department possible including its body weight of 1.1 kg, which might be a tad on the higher side considering it’s a pocket watch! There were 5 different kinds on functions on the watch which include basic operational functions, timekeeping, calendar, chronograph, and chime. The chassis was made with 18K yellow gold, and contained 332 screws, 129 rubies, 429 mechanical parts, 68 springs, 24 hands, 184 wheels, apart from a secular calendar with phases of the moon being indicated separately.
Price: $1.7 million
The Pilot watch stood out for the distinct size of 55 mm dial, which made the timepiece stand out from anything from that generation that made watches in smaller sizes. Created in 1936 on special request, it was a revolution considering this very size of the dial. The casing was created from chrome and nickel, with a black lacquer dial, carved scales with off-white varnish, Arabic numeral markings and special angular time display, aided by the unique working mechanism of the hands on the dial.
Price: $ 1.5 million
The Sky Moon Tourbillion 5002P model gained prominence for a number of reasons, especially its affinity with indicators of celestial patterns and the sidereal hours which occurs every 23 hours 56 minutes and 4.1 seconds on its 2nd blue dual. Apart from them are indicators of the leap year at 12 ‘o’clock slot on the front dial, along with day of the week indicator at 9 ‘o’clock slot, moon phase indicator at 6 ‘o’clock, and month indicator at the 3 ‘o’clock slot. The date is indicated by the pink engravings under the hour markings. Precious materials include platinum such as in the case and bezel, white silver on the 43 mm dial, sapphire crystal case covering, and black crocodile leather strap.
Price: $1,340,675
Truly a collector’s piece, Patek Philippe World Time (Ref. 2523) has clearly been the highlight of the Antiquorum’s Geneva Auction. With guilloche gold center, this extremely fine and rare Patek Philippe watch was made back in 1953 and was sold on 10 October 1956 by Jean Guillermin, a famed Patek Philippe retailer. Until being offered at this recent auction, the watch remained with the original owner’s family, that too in an amazing unpolished condition for 55 years. This rare watch was overhauled by Patek in 2011 under very specific condition from the owner that to ensure the good timekeeping, only the movement should be serviced but the case should be left in its original untouched condition.
Price: $ 1.2 million
This version of the Sky Moon Tourbillon is the exact cousin of the 5002P, with the main differentiation being the use of gold in this version, with 3 options to choose from; white gold, yellow gold and rose gold. Other features include the 686 total components, some of them being microscopic in size, apart from the special Caliber R TO27 QR SID LUCL, minute repeater with tourbillon movement, chime with cathedral gongs, 9 hands in all, moon phase indicator, day, month and leap year dials, on the main opaline white dial with embossed Calatrava cross motif and gold applied roman numerals. The watch is also humidity and dust proof, though not water proof.
Price: $590,396
This triple date chronograph version was conceived by Stern Feres who bought this timepiece to its final form as is known now. Incidentally, it has undergone many changes since into introduction in the 1950’s and a total of 349 pieces were ever produced. Also, this was one of the earliest perpetual calendar chronographs with moon phases and Breguet Arabic numerals to show. Its other feature include its black dial with white varnish numericals, 30 minute indicator, and 18K gold buckle casing of 37mm diameter with Patek Philippe signatures apart from some of the usual features of other timepieces from the designer.
Price: $576,000
This Patek Philippe timepiece was created with an aim to pay tribute to the contrasting but fundamental philosophy behind the Patek Philippe watches; innovation and tradition, aesthetics and technology, complexity and simplicity. The watch has a prominent platinum casing, with sapphire crystal covering on the back and front dial, with a blue outline which displays the branding and the dates of the month in white lacquer. Under that is the exposed working mechanism of the watch apart from sub-dials of moon phases, days of the week, and months of the year, and in all is 43mm wide as a composite dial. The other significant component is the Caliber R27 PS QR LU that has 515 microscopic parts including the gemstones and yellow gold used to create the tourbillon function mechanism.
Price: $ 100,000
This version of the timepiece was introduced in the Rose gold version, but after that got phased out, the white gold version came to the picture. The watch features a step cut casing with a vertical rectangular shape which highlights the rhodium gray and blue dial with white gold Arabic numerals. Unlike some of the most expensive version, this timepiece has a water resistance of up to 30 meters, and also an outstanding 10 day power reserve from its tourbillon mechanism. The strap of the timepiece has been handcrafted in terms of stitching leather from alligators, and is prominently black.
Price: $40,000
The idea behind this watch was to keep things as simple and legible for the wearer. It features a stainless casing with a black and white 40mm dial, which includes the white gold hour markings, day and month indicators and also the moon phase tracer, that’s done in a rather contrasting blue and muted silver combination. Other notables include the alligator skin strap with rectangular markings, and the sapphire crystal scratch resistant cover. It also has a water resistance of 120 meters.
Price: $ 25,800
Available in 2 options; the white gold and yellow gold, the Calatrava Officer Watch brings out the classical officer’s appeal in this timepiece. The White Gold option comes with the overall white and black contrast combination, where the yellow gold version comes with the white and yellow gold color combination. The dial features golden work in the outer rim and the hour markers, apart from the small window which displays the date on the right hand side at the 3 ‘o’clock slot. Unlike its other models, this watch doesn’t have indicators like the moon phase, and days of the week and prefers to keep things simple and sophisticated. The strapping is the characteristic black alligator one with square scales etched on them.
Price: $600,000- $800,000 (estimated)
Sold price: $90,2500
Created in 1992, this self-winding masterpiece from Patek Phillipe remains one of the rarest models from the master watchmaker. In fact, when it was revealed in 1992, it went into the hands of a long term collector, who has managed to keep the watch in prime condition till date. The functionalities associated with this Platinum cased timepiece, are the moon phase indicator, days of the week counter, months of the year dial, apart from the hours and minutes which come as markings along the side of the dial. The artist credited with the creation of the watch is Jean Pierre Hagmann, who also came up with the idea of putting the watch in a specially crafted mahogany wood box. Original documentation and leaflets are also accompanying the goodies when it goes on auction sale on April, 2012.
Price: $513,200
One of the rarest editions of a watch from Patek Phillipe, the Ref.3939 became popular as a stainless steel with black and white dial edition. However, this particular one is only the 2nd one, which has been made with rose gold casing and detailing on the main dial. Governed by the R TO 27PS caliber movement, this timepiece has the power reserve indicator and the hours and seconds function on the main dial. Though not as richly endowed in functions, it still remains a favorite for those who like sophistication and minimalism on the same ground.
