Patek Philippe watch sells for 14,2 million in Geneva

A vintage Patek Philippe watch has sold at an auction in Geneva, fetching the high price of 14,2 million Swiss francs. This is the highest price ever paid for such a watch.

Stainless steel Patek Philippe sells for 14,2 million

Switzerland has quite a history when it comes to making and selling watches. And perhaps for some, there is no price too high to pay for a Swiss-made watch.

A Patek Philippe watch has sold at an auction in Geneva for a staggering 14,19 million Swiss francs, making it the most expensive vintage Patek Philippe watch ever to be sold at an auction. 

The watch in question is a Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar reference 1518. It was made in 1943 and, according to Watson, is one of four made of stainless steel. This is a “rarity that makes it more sought after than those made of gold”, Watson continues.

Patek Philippe “one of the most important wristwatches in history”

In 2016, the same Patek Philippe watch sold for over 11 million Swiss francs, making it then the most expensive wristwatch ever to be sold at an auction. While this record has since been broken, the recent sale of the Patek Philippe still caught the attention of many watch lovers.

Auctioneers described the piece as “one of the most important wristwatches in history”. Indeed, the sale lasted less than nine and a half minutes and gained the attention of five bidders.  

It is "a watch with an almost mythical status, representing the ultimate convergence of historical significance, mastery of design, mechanical innovation and rarity,” continued one of the auctioneers.