Rare Patek Philippe That Belonged to Henry Graves Jr. Fetches $1,340,804 at Auction

Today in Geneva, Christie’s kicked off the Spring auction season with its Important Watches sale. The top lot from the 435-piece auction was Lot 101, a rare Patek Philippe timepiece which belonged to Henry Graves Jr.

This platinum cushion-shaped minute repeating wristwatch, which was made for Graves in 1927, brought in US$1,340,804. Pictured above, it features a silvered matte dial, applied platinum Breguet numerals and subsidiary seconds. The caseback is engraved with Graves’ coat-of-arms and motto Esse Quam Videri (Latin for ‘to be rather than to seem’). The case, dial and movement are signed Patek, Philippe Co., Geneva, Switzerland.

Graves, an American banker and haute horlogerie collector, commissioned some of the most outstanding Patek Philippe models in the manufacture’s history.

In total, today’s Important Watches auction realized sales of US$26,508,102. The results were a nearly 10% increase compared with last year’s Spring sale, according to John Reardon and Sam Hines, International Co-Heads of the Watch Department at Christie’s. Rounding out the top lots were another Patek Philippe model, as well as a Rolex.

This 18K gold Rolex features a unique decorative cloisonné enamel dial and star numerals. It sold for US$1,220,632 – a new world record for any Rolex sold at auction.

This 18K gold double-dial Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref. 5002 by Patek Philippe boasts twelve complications, including a minute repeater, tourbillon, perpetual calendar, retrograde date, moon age, sidereal time, sky chart and moon orbit display. It sold for US$1,020,346.

Photo credit: © CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LIMITED 2014.

Adrienne Faurote

Editor in Chief · Knockoff Watches Wholesale

As a former New Yorker, now a “Miamian,” Adrienne Faurote joined Haute Living in August of 2021. She currently serves as the Haute Media Group Editor-in-Chief, overseeing all editorial platforms within the Haute Media Group while also maintaining her role as Fashion, Jewelry Watch Director. Prior to her position at Haute Living, Faurote was the Market Editor at Marie Claire Magazine US, amassing over ten years in the industry, becoming an authoritative voice in all things fashion, jewelry, and watches.