Not only is Patek Philippe one of the best, high-quality luxury watch brands in the world, but it’s also one of the most expensive. While its typical releases are in the range of other comparable luxury watch companies, some of its timepieces have sold at auction at astonishing price points.
It’s not too much of a surprise that Patek Philippe can draw these amazing prices. The storied brand is well-beloved and coveted amongst watch enthusiasts. It makes sense that collectors would pay a pretty penny for the rarest and best that the brand has to offer. In today’s blog, we’ll highlight some of the most expensive Patek Philippe’s in existence. Let’s dive in.
Saying that Patek Philipp is the most expensive luxury brand isn’t hyperbole. It’s also not a fluke that they fetch such high prices at auction. Among the top ten most expensive watches ever sold at auction, Patek Philippe takes up nine slots, with Rolex only filling one. Patek also nabbed the first and second place spots, with Rolex grabbing the third place spot.
In short, Patek Philippe consistently commands incredibly high prices at auction, even when competing with renowned brands like Rolex and Audemars Piguet.
Click here to read our article on why Patek Philippe watches are so valuable.
So, we know that Patek Philipp can pull in record-setting prices at auction, but which of their watches occupy these records and how much did they sell for? Let’s take a look at these record-breaking watches and what makes them so special.
The third most expensive Patek Philippe to sell at auction, and fourth on the most expensive list overall, goes to the Stainless Steel 1518. This beautifully elegant timepiece comes with a 35mm stainless steel case with a 1944 production year. The reference was first produced in 1941 and made history as the first chronograph in regular production with a perpetual calendar.
While stainless steel is usually used to make a watch more casual or even more affordable, it has the opposite effect on the 1518. The stainless steel used in this reference makes it exceptionally rare, since 1518 was primarily produced in yellow-gold. Only 20% out of the 281 1518s produced were made out of rose gold. Stainless steel was the rarest, with only four 1518s in existence made with the material. One of these four models was famously owned by the last King of Romania. Philips in Geneva was the auctioneer for this particular timepiece, and it was sold for over £9 million in 2016.
The second most expensive Patek Philippe ever sold, and the most expensive pocket watch ever sold, is a record held by the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication. This watch nabbed over £20.6 million at auction in Geneva in 2014.
It’s easy to see why the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication was so coveted. It is one of the most complicated mechanical pocket watches in existence. The exquisite timepiece is made with 18-karat gold, and it contains a jaw-dropping 24 complications. The watch was named after banker Henry Graves Jr. Reportedly, Henry commissioned the watch to one-up American automaker James Ward Packard’s Grand Complication pocket watch. The two would compete against each other when collecting watches and would often commission new timepieces such as this one.
The Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication was a laborious project, taking three years of designing and five years to manufacture. Henry finally got his watch in 1933. Some of the functions found in this incredible timepiece include Westminster chimes, a perpetual calendar, sunrise and sunset times, and a celestial map of New York as seen from the Graves’s apartment.
Finally, we have the most expensive wristwatch ever sold – Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010. With a name like that, you would certainly expect that this watch is something special. You’d be right to make this assumption, as this Grandmaster Chime is the only watch of its kind made with stainless steel. It also has 20 incredible complications contained within.
Of these 20 complications, five are acoustic functions, two of which are patented global premieres. Some other functions found in the watch include a strike work isolator indication, a second-time zone with a day/night indicator, a crown position indication, and a patented reversing mechanism to switch between the watch’s two dials. The watch is truly a marvel of timepiece engineering.
Whether the exceedingly well-made watch is worth the price it fetched is a matter of personal option. The watch was made for the 2019 Only Watch auction held by Christie’s, and it sold at auction for more than £27 million. The watch truly is one of a kind.
Fortunately, you don’t have to spend tens of millions to own a Patek Philippe of your own. Here at BQ Watches, we offer an eclectic selection of used Patek Philippe watches for a great price. We’re also happy to source a Patek Philippe for you if you have a particular model in mind. We also offer a full pre-owned selection of other luxury brands such as Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Omega, Hublot, IWC, TAG Heuer, Bremont, Breitling, Panerai, and more.
If you’re looking to sell a luxury watch, we’re happy to make you an offer. We also offer professional cleaning, repair, and appraisal services. Simply fill out our contact form to let us know what service you need, and a member of our team will be in touch right away to assist you.
Interested in learning more? Click here to read our article on the world's most expensive watches.
