Today, Swiss luxury brand Patek Philippe is one of the most respected names in the watchmaking, and one of the best-performing brands at auction. In 2014, they set the record for the most expensive watch to sell at auction when its <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2014%2F11%2F12%2Fbusiness%2F24-million-gold-watch-sothebys-record-patek-philippe%2Findex.html">Henry Graves Supercomplication</a> watch sold for $24.4 million at at Sotheby's in Switzerland.
1933 Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication pocket watch —
Today, Swiss luxury brand Patek Philippe is one of the most respected names in the watchmaking, and one of the best-performing brands at auction. In 2014, they set the record for the most expensive watch to sell at auction when its Henry Graves Supercomplication watch sold for $24.4 million at at Sotheby's in Switzerland.
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In November 2016, this Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph sold for $11 million at a Phillips auction in Geneva, making it the most expensive wristwatch ever to be sold at auction.
1943 Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 —
In November 2016, this Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph sold for $11 million at a Phillips auction in Geneva, making it the most expensive wristwatch ever to be sold at auction.
Courtesy Phillips/Phillips.com
At the same auction, this pink gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch sold for a more modest $1.5 million.
1948 Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 —
At the same auction, this pink gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch sold for a more modest $1.5 million.
Phillips
The previous record for a wristwatch was $7.3 million, set at a 2015 Phillips auction in Geneva.
Patek Philippe Ref. 5016A —
The previous record for a wristwatch was $7.3 million, set at a 2015 Phillips auction in Geneva.
Courtesy Phillips/Phillips.com
In May 2017, Christie's auctioned a 18-karat gold watch -- complete with black gilt dial -- that once belonged to Emperor Haile Selassie, the last emperor of Ethiopia. It sold for $2.9 million.
Patek Philippe Ref. 2497 —
In May 2017, Christie's auctioned a 18-karat gold watch -- complete with black gilt dial -- that once belonged to Emperor Haile Selassie, the last emperor of Ethiopia. It sold for $2.9 million.
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This 1981 perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases and leap-year by Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe $1.7 million at a Christie's sale in Geneva in May 2013.
1981 Patek Philippe Ref. 3448 —
This 1981 perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases and leap-year by Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe $1.7 million at a Christie's sale in Geneva in May 2013.
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At the same Christie's auction, this one-of-a-kind wristwatch, from the brand's first series of perpetual calendars with an automatic movement, sold for $1.5 million.
1970-1975 Patek Philippe Ref. 3448 —
At the same Christie's auction, this one-of-a-kind wristwatch, from the brand's first series of perpetual calendars with an automatic movement, sold for $1.5 million.
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This perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, which sold for $1.4 million at a Sotheby's auction in November 2008, is one of few known pink gold watches made by Patek Philippe.
1951 Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 —
This perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, which sold for $1.4 million at a Sotheby's auction in November 2008, is one of few known pink gold watches made by Patek Philippe.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
It's just not just Patek Philippe watches that do well at auction. This elaborate clock -- made from yellow gold, diamonds, rubies and sapphires, among other precious materials -- sold for $2.3 million at a 2013 Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong.
1992 Patek Philippe "The Magpie's Treasure Nest Clock" —
It's just not just Patek Philippe watches that do well at auction. This elaborate clock -- made from yellow gold, diamonds, rubies and sapphires, among other precious materials -- sold for $2.3 million at a 2013 Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong.
Courtesy Sotheby's
But not all Patak Philippe timepieces reach their potential. In May 2017, a Calibre 89 pocket watch was expected to sell for up to $10.1 million, but Sotheby's declined to sell it when it didn't meet the $6.5 million minimum price.
1989 Patek Philippe Calibre 89 —
But not all Patak Philippe timepieces reach their potential. In May 2017, a Calibre 89 pocket watch was expected to sell for up to $10.1 million, but Sotheby's declined to sell it when it didn't meet the $6.5 million minimum price.
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