The Five Most Expensive Patek Philippe Watches Sold at Auction

S ince 1839, Patek Philippe has been producing exquisite timepieces that are both beautiful to behold and daringly complicated. Patek's longevity in the field means that there is today, considerable demand for their vintage pieces, highly sought-after by connoisseurs. However, Patek Philippe has always – ingeniously – kept production of their watches limited, meaning their timepieces retain excellent resale value. As a leader in high-functionality watches, the Pateks that make it to Sotheby’s can attract bids in the millions. Read on for five of the most expensive Patek Philippe watches ever sold at Sotheby’s.

Patek Philippe 'Henry Graves Jr' Supercomplication - $24 million

Patek Philippe 'Henry Graves Jr' Supercomplication

Many consider Patek Philippe The Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication clock watch a Patek Philippe unicorn, which explains its incredible final sale price of $24 million in 2014. Made entirely by hand over a period of seven years, starting in 1925, it contains 24 complications including a double dial, Westminster chimes, grande and petite sonnerie, split seconds chronograph, perpetual calendar, moon phases, and a celestial chart for the night sky of New York City. One of the many commissions from the New York banker Henry Graves Jr (hence the name), its yellow-gold case has been extraordinarily well-kept – at time of sale, the watch hadn’t been serviced for over 40 years and was still running perfectly – and the dial bears Graves’s name. It’s also incredibly large, weighing almost 1lb. There may never be a timepiece to beat it.

Patek Philippe 'Prince Tewfik' Pink on Pink 1518 - $9.6 million

Patek Philippe 1518 Prince Tewfik Pink on Pink 1518 sold for $9,570,000 in 2021. We'll see another of these Patek Philippe 1518 pink-on-pink watches below, but this one was discovered first. This one came directly from the family of the original owner, Prince Tewfik Adil 'T.A' Tousson of Egypt, who bought it on 20th July 1951. A direct descendent of the founder of modern Egypt, he fled the country during the 1952 revolution ending up in the United States, living out his life as an academic. This Patek Philippe was made in 1948 and spent quite a bit of time in a safe-deposit box which accounts for its excellent condition. Prince Tewfik also saved the Certificate of Origin, Operating Instructions and box, and kept them in mint condition – making this the only 1518 to be offered with its original certificate of origin.

Patek Philippe Reference 6300G-010 'Grandmaster Chime' - $5.4 million

This Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime was first introduced in 2014. The Grandmaster Chime marked Patek Philippe’s 175th anniversary before being inducted into the permanent collection in 2016, with 20 complications. Though a dozen or so complications off the 33 that were introduced in the Caliber 89 for the 150th anniversary, this one is still a doozy. Crafted in white gold, this timepiece has five chiming modes, a reversible case, two independent dials, an alarm feature, and a perpetual calendar, to name just a few of the innovations that make the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime the Grandmaster Flash of Pateks.

This particular watch was the first Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime to appear at auction having previously been owned by legendary actor Sylvester Stallone and sold for $5.4 million in 2024. The lucky buyer also took home the original box which was engraved with Mr Stallone’s name as well as a number of other perks courtesy of the Swiss brand.

Patek Philippe Reference 1518 in Pink Gold - $3.9 million

Sotheby's sold a Patek Philippe 1518 in pink gold for $3.9 million in 2023. In 1941, Patek Philippe introduced their first perpetual calendar chronograph, the Reference 1518. Over the years, notable Reference 1518 collectors have included Henry Graves Jr, Sugar Ray Robinson, the former ruler of Romania, King Michael I, the King of Jordan, and Egypt’s penultimate ruler King Farouk I.

In keeping with Patek Philippe's tendency to produce only a small number of any reference, this timepiece is one of 281. While most of the Patek Philippe 1518 watches were built in yellow gold, this is one of 58 to have been made in pink gold, with a matching pink dial (even rarer). This is only the 15th of its kind in existence. But, it doesn’t end there. Only seven of the 15 have 'Patek Philpipe & Co' on the dial (they dropped the “& Co” halfway through the run), and only three others have a French calendar wheel. Finally, this watch was hidden in its original owner's drawer untouched, for 30 years – and has therefore acquired the grail status of 'previously unknown' - thereby accounting for the hefty auction hammer price.

Patek Philippe Nautilus Reference 5711 - $2.6 million

Established within two years of one another, Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co were perhaps destined to work together. In 1851, a partnership was born, when Tiffany & Co became the first retailer in the United States to carry the Swiss watches, placing an initial order of 150 pieces.

In 2021, to mark the 170th anniversary of this relationship, Patek Philippe released 170 Patek Philippe Nautilus Reference 5711 featuring a Tiffany Blue dial, and the words '170th Anniversary - 1851-2021 - Tiffany & Co. - Patek Philippe' etched on the sapphire crystal display caseback. The Tiffany Patek watch sold for $2.6 million in 2023 due to its rarity and condition being new and never worn.

Patek Philippe Reference 5217 - $2.3 million

A Patek Philippe 5217, Circa 2015 sold for $2.3 million in 2022. The brand new Patek Philippe watch features a highly sought-after super complication: the minute repeater (a mechanism that allows the wearer to sound the time down to the minute using three different chimes).

Additionally, this reference, which was made only for very few VIP clients and features a perpetual calendar with day, date, moon phases and leap year indication. A platinum case, diamond bezel, and alligator bracelet set this modern Grande Complication piece ahead of the pack and was judiciously snapped up by one lucky buyer.

Patek Philippe 'Sky Moon' Tourbillon 988, Reference 5002 - $1.6 million

Patek Philippe makes some of the most stylish and beautiful dials. The Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon 988 reference 5002 is no exception. It is simply stunning. But, perhaps more importantly, this platinum Sky Moon Tourbillon features 12 incredible complications that make collectors sit up and take notice.

This platinum double-dial watch includes tourbillon, minute repeating on cathedral gongs, perpetual calendar, retrograde date, sky chart, moon phases, orbit display and sidereal time. The dials are the star of the show here though. On one side, we have a magnificent blue northern sky chart, on the other an embossed guilloche pattern, moon phases and perpetual calendar. This reference is only produced twice annually for top clients who must pass an interview just to be placed on the waiting list.

Advantages to Buying Patek Philippe Watches on the Secondary Market

1. Access

Sotheby’s provides exclusive access to a curated selection of Patek Philippe watches from its long established global network of sellers. As a leading marketplace, Sotheby's offers exceptional Patek Philippe timepieces, from iconic classics to rare references. Our watch specialists are dedicated to sourcing the most desirable Patek Philippe watch models from collectors around the world.

2. Flexibility

Sotheby’s offers multiple ways to purchase Patek Philippe watches, including online and in person at our locations in New York, Hong Kong, Zurich, Paris, and London. We also provide a concierge service to help source specific Patek Philippe watch models not available online.

3. Value

While authorized Patek Philippe boutiques offer their latest collections, finding specific models—especially those with strong collector demand—can be challenging due to availability constraints. Sotheby’s presents a curated selection of Patek Philippe watches, including rare and discontinued references, available for purchase without the need to visit multiple retailers. Shopping with Sotheby’s ensures access to exceptional Patek Philippe timepieces, from vintage icons to modern grail watches, all authenticated by experts.

4. Discovery

One of the greatest advantages of shopping in a global luxury marketplace is the chance to discover unique, limited-production Patek Philippe watches no longer available at retail. Our curated selection of Patek Philippe watches is continuously refreshed, ensuring that you’ll always find something new and exclusive.

Buy and Sell Patek Philippe Watches at Sotheby's

Sotheby’s offers a curated selection of the finest Patek Philippe watches available for immediate purchase, as well as through auctions held in New York, Paris, Zurich, and Hong Kong. Expect to find rare and collectible Patek Philippe models in every sale, including iconic pieces like the Nautilus, Aquanaut, and more in exceptional condition. Sotheby’s auctions feature an array of Patek Philippe timepieces, ranging from elegant vintage models to contemporary masterpieces, showcasing the brand’s unmatched craftsmanship and innovation.

Prices for Patek Philippe watches start around $14,000 for models like the Calatrava and rise significantly for highly sought-after pieces. Iconic grand complications often command starting prices of around $100,000, while rare collectible editions can exceed $200,000.

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