The most expensive watch to sell at auction in 2023 boasts incredible provenance. Last spring, Phillips held The Imperial Patek Philippe Sale at its new Asia headquarters in Hong Kong, offering 12 items that belonged to the last Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Aisin-Gioro Puyi. The Patek Philippe Ref. 96QL is a truly one of a kind timepiece featuring a unique platinum construction along with some impressive features both inside and out. This triple date wristwatch showcases small seconds, moon phases, a roulette-dial, enamel Arabic numerals, and pink gold Feuille hands. The model sold for a whopping US$6.6 million, setting three records: the highest result for any Ref. 96 Quantieme Lune ever sold, the highest of any wristwatch that was previously owned by Emperors, and the most valuable lot ever realised by Phillips Watches in Asia.
Some pretty wild things happened at the auction block in 2023
Just in December 2023 alone, we saw US$43 million worth of watches get impounded at Christie’s over a legal dispute with a collector and a unique G-Shock sell for a whopping US$400,050, setting a new world record for any Casio watch. Despite the more unusual and shocking turn of events under the hammer, last year was also filled with some pretty impressive sales of some pretty incredible timepieces. These are five of the most expensive watches sold at auction in 2023.
Patek Philippe Ref. 5711-1A-018 Tiffany Blue Nautilus, US$2.5 million
Last May, a total of six timepieces went on to sell for over US$1 million at the Christie’s Rare Watches auction. The top lot was none other than a Patek Philippe Ref. 5711-1A-018 Tiffany Blue Nautilus. This double signed model easily ranks as one of the most famous and highly coveted watches of the past decade, commanding high sales whenever one crosses the auction block. While this sale didn’t set a new record for the model, it went under the hammer for almost US$2.5 million, making it among the highest sales of the year.
Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph First-Series in yellow gold, US$2.6 million and Second-Series in pink gold, US$3.2 million
The Phillips Geneva Watch Auction XVII saw two rare Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 perpetual calendar chronographs. While this reference doesn’t hold the mainstream clout of the 5711, the 2499 is a highly sought-after model among top-level collectors, and these two examples marked the second and third highest lots of the spring sale. The first-series model in yellow gold sold for just over US$2.6 million while the second-series model in pink gold went on to fetch just over US$3.2 million, making it one of two watches at the auction to exceed the US$3 million mark.
Roger Smith Pocket Watch Number Two, US$4.9 million
It’s clear Patek is one that reigns supreme at the auction block, but every now and again we see another maker get their spot in the limelight. At the close of another successful auction weekend in June, a Roger Smith pocket watch stole the show. At Phillips New York Watch Auction: Eight, British watchmaker Roger Smith’s completely handmade Pocket Watch Number Two hammered for US$4.9 million. This exceptional timepiece, crafted by one of the most important watchmakers in existence, is “the most important watch I’ve ever made, without a doubt,” according to the man himself. The sale marked a world record for any auctioned timepiece by Roger Smith—and for any auctioned British timepiece.
Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref. 6002G, US$5.8 million
For Christie’s Hong Kong, March was a historic month. At the Top of Time auction, an extraordinary watch from Patek Philippe set a new global record for the most expensive watch auctioned online. The Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref. 6002G features a stunning 18-karat white-gold case and a striking blue champlevé and cloisonné enamel dial, and yet the real beauty is housed within. This 12-complication masterpiece boasts a perpetual calendar, side real time, a sky chart, cathedral minute repeating, moon phases, and more. With the rarity of this impressive wristwatch, it comes as no surprise it shattered records and hammered down for more than half of the auctioneer’s final sales.
