Historic Patek Philippe Watch Owned by China's Last Emperor Sells for Over $6 Million at Auction in Hong Kong
A Patek Philippe watch once owned by China's last emperor, Aisin-Gioro Puyi, has sold for more than $6 million at auction in Hong Kong.
The Ref 96 Quantieme Lune timepiece, which boasts a crown-like moon phase, was expected to fetch about $3 million but sold for HK$40 million ($5.1 million) after about five minutes of spirited bidding.
With the buyer's premium fee, the total price came to about $6.2 million.
The watch was a personal item of the deposed emperor, who passed it to his Russian interpreter, Georgy Permyakov, when he left a Japanese-occupied prison camp in 1950.
It was the first "complication wristwatch" produced by Patek Philippe and is one of only three known examples in the world.
The sale of the watch and other items belonging to Puyi, including a red paper fan inscribed with a poem by the former emperor, generated significant interest and set records, including the highest result of any Patek Philippe reference 96 ever sold.
While the watch is historically significant, it is far from the most expensive timepiece ever sold on the auction block.
A Patek Philippe "Grandmaster Chime" sold for $31 million in 2019, which is said to be the most complex timepiece that Patek Philippe has ever created, with 20 complications.
With the buyer's premium fee, the total price came to about $6.2 million.
The watch was a personal item of the deposed emperor, who passed it to his Russian interpreter, Georgy Permyakov, when he left a Japanese-occupied prison camp in 1950.
It was the first "complication wristwatch" produced by Patek Philippe and is one of only three known examples in the world.
The sale of the watch and other items belonging to Puyi, including a red paper fan inscribed with a poem by the former emperor, generated significant interest and set records, including the highest result of any Patek Philippe reference 96 ever sold.
While the watch is historically significant, it is far from the most expensive timepiece ever sold on the auction block.
A Patek Philippe "Grandmaster Chime" sold for $31 million in 2019, which is said to be the most complex timepiece that Patek Philippe has ever created, with 20 complications.
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