The Phillips auction house unveils a real discovery. No one knew of the existence of this watch soon to be offered under the hammer. This is a platinum Patek Philippe Calatrava ref. 96 Calendar Moon. An object that belonged to Aisin-Giro Puyi – or Xuantong, his reign name – the twelfth and last Chinese emperor of the Qing dynasty. This ruler lived a complicated life in China, ascending the throne of the Qing dynasty when he was only two years old, but forced to abdicate four years later. His life was told in 1987 in the film The Last Emperor by filmmaker Bertolucci.
This legendary reference is of paramount importance for the heritage of the house of Patek Philippe, since it is one of the most important examples to have never resurfaced. Only seven models of this type and endowed with such a complication were previously known. This copy is new on the market and is thus the eighth to appear. Only two examples with the exact dial configuration – which includes an Arabic “Roulette” in enamel – have ever resurfaced. One is now part of the collection of the Patek Phillipe Museum in Geneva while the second was sold in 1996 to a private collector. No estimate has yet been given by Phillips.
What is the Patek Philippe myth? Until April 15, the house is orchestrating in Geneva, in the historic building on rue du Rhône, a major retrospective showcasing its know-how in fine crafts. Dubbed “Haut Artisanat 2023”, this exhibition will celebrate the rich heritage of the manufacture and more than 180 years of history of the brand founded by the Stern family in 1839. For the occasion, nearly 70 unique and limited-edition pieces will be unveiled to visitors who will be able to (re)discover watchmaking know-how and ancestral techniques such as Grand Feu cloisonné enamelling, miniature painting on enamel, setting, guillochage, wood micro-marquetry, enamels on Longwy earthenware or engraving. Patek Philippe salons, rue du Rhône 41, 1204 Geneva. FREE ENTRANCE.
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture, whose artisanal tradition has its roots in the heart of the Swiss Jura, in the Vallée de Joux, has always been keen to carry out projects that put watchmaking expertise in the spotlight. Ancestral practices that the Grande Maison highlights in its workshop of rare crafts, in which its artisan-watchmakers brilliantly master techniques such as engine-turning, engraving or enamelling. A watchmaking mastery that Jaeger-LeCoultre strives to transmit. Thus, in this quest to transmit and educate young artisans, the brand signs a partnership with the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity.
