Rare Watches from the Graves Collection Go on the Block at Sotheby's

On June 14, Sotheby's in New York will offer rare timepieces from the collections of the legendary 20th century collector Henry Graves, Jr. and his grandson Reginald 'Pete' Fullerton, Jr. The historic sale includes 13 Patek Philippe timepieces originally owned by Graves (and previously unknown to the public) in addition to 44 wristwatches and two case clocks from the collection of the late Fullerton, who not only inherited his grandfather's watches but also his passion for complicated mechanical watchmaking.

The New York financier Graves and his grandson were among Patek Philippe's most devoted patrons. The sale's lineup includes a unique yellow gold tonneau minute repeating wristwatch engraved with the Graves family arms and motto, Esse quam videri: "To be, rather than to seem." The watch's twin in platinum is housed in Geneva's Patek Philippe Museum. The piece is expected to sell between $600,000 and $800,000. Graves also commissioned Patek Philippe to produce an 18 karat yellow gold split second chronograph wristwatch (Ref. 1436) with Breguet numerals, estimated to sell between $200,000 and $300,000. Another 18 karat yellow gold trip minute repeating open faced watch with an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000 was presented by Graves to Fullerton's father as a wedding gift upon his marriage to Graves' daughter in 1926.

Fullerton's collection includes 11 important Patek Philippe perpetual calendars dating from the 1950s to the 1990s. One unusual yellow gold Ref. 2497 estimated at between $300,000 and $500,000 carries an early number designating it as one of the first examples of that coveted model.

Fullerton, who was meticulous about record keeping and daily maintenance, also acquired a number of modern pieces from Rolex, Jaeger LeCoultre, and Breguet. The sale is presenting seven complicated Breguet wristwatches in their original boxes with papers. Fullerton also insisted that his watches' cases and dials never be touched during cleaning and servicing, preserving each piece in pristine original condition.

Patek Philippe 1951 Ref 2497 center seconds perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases and applied 'Cubist' numerals (Est. $300/500,000).

Graves established his legacy as one of history's eminent collectors during the early decades of the 20th century, when he and the Ohio automobile magnate James Ward Packard launched a famous collecting duel as each sought to outdo the other with their commissions. In 1916, Patek Philippe delivered Packard's first extremely complicated pocket watch with 16 horological functions. The development prompted Graves to commission a piece in 1928 that would put Packard's to shame. With a combination of 24 complications, the 1933 Graves Supercomplication remained the most complicated watch ever made until Patek Philippe built the Caliber 89 to commemorate its 150th anniversary in 1989. The Graves magnum opus sold at Sotheby's in 1999 for a record shattering $11 million, which remains the highest price ever paid for a watch or clock. As the bidding skyrocketed above the $5 million high estimate, Patek Philippe's president, Philippe Stern, dropped out only to be consoled by the record price that was achieved. While the Supercomplication remains a holy grail for the Sterns, tomorrow's sale, presents yet another opportunity for Patek Philippe to scoop up some horological treasures for its namesake museum.Rare Watches from the Graves Collection Go on the Block at Sotheby's

On June 14, Sotheby's in New York will offer rare timepieces from the collections of the legendary 20th century collector Henry Graves, Jr. and his grandson Reginald 'Pete' Fullerton, Jr. The historic sale includes 13 Patek Philippe timepieces originally owned by Graves (and previously unknown to the public) in addition to 44 wristwatches and two case clocks from the collection of the late Fullerton, who not only inherited his grandfather's watches but also his passion for complicated mechanical watchmaking.

The New York financier Graves and his grandson were among Patek Philippe's most devoted patrons. The sale's lineup includes a unique yellow gold tonneau minute repeating wristwatch engraved with the Graves family arms and motto, Esse quam videri: "To be, rather than to seem." The watch's twin in platinum is housed in Geneva's Patek Philippe Museum. The piece is expected to sell between $600,000 and $800,000. Graves also commissioned Patek Philippe to produce an 18 karat yellow gold split second chronograph wristwatch (Ref. 1436) with Breguet numerals, estimated to sell between $200,000 and $300,000. Another 18 karat yellow gold trip minute repeating open faced watch with an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000 was presented by Graves to Fullerton's father as a wedding gift upon his marriage to Graves' daughter in 1926.

Fullerton's collection includes 11 important Patek Philippe perpetual calendars dating from the 1950s to the 1990s. One unusual yellow gold Ref. 2497 estimated at between $300,000 and $500,000 carries an early number designating it as one of the first examples of that coveted model.

Fullerton, who was meticulous about record keeping and daily maintenance, also acquired a number of modern pieces from Rolex, Jaeger LeCoultre, and Breguet. The sale is presenting seven complicated Breguet wristwatches in their original boxes with papers. Fullerton also insisted that his watches' cases and dials never be touched during cleaning and servicing, preserving each piece in pristine original condition.

Patek Philippe 1951 Ref 2497 center seconds perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases and applied 'Cubist' numerals (Est. $300/500,000).

Graves established his legacy as one of history's eminent collectors during the early decades of the 20th century, when he and the Ohio automobile magnate James Ward Packard launched a famous collecting duel as each sought to outdo the other with their commissions. In 1916, Patek Philippe delivered Packard's first extremely complicated pocket watch with 16 horological functions. The development prompted Graves to commission a piece in 1928 that would put Packard's to shame. With a combination of 24 complications, the 1933 Graves Supercomplication remained the most complicated watch ever made until Patek Philippe built the Caliber 89 to commemorate its 150th anniversary in 1989. The Graves magnum opus sold at Sotheby's in 1999 for a record shattering $11 million, which remains the highest price ever paid for a watch or clock. As the bidding skyrocketed above the $5 million high estimate, Patek Philippe's president, Philippe Stern, dropped out only to be consoled by the record price that was achieved. While the Supercomplication remains a holy grail for the Sterns, tomorrow's sale, presents yet another opportunity for Patek Philippe to scoop up some horological treasures for its namesake museum.Rare Watches from the Graves Collection Go on the Block at Sotheby's

On June 14, Sotheby's in New York will offer rare timepieces from the collections of the legendary 20th century collector Henry Graves, Jr. and his grandson Reginald 'Pete' Fullerton, Jr. The historic sale includes 13 Patek Philippe timepieces originally owned by Graves (and previously unknown to the public) in addition to 44 wristwatches and two case clocks from the collection of the late Fullerton, who not only inherited his grandfather's watches but also his passion for complicated mechanical watchmaking.

The New York financier Graves and his grandson were among Patek Philippe's most devoted patrons. The sale's lineup includes a unique yellow gold tonneau minute repeating wristwatch engraved with the Graves family arms and motto, Esse quam videri: "To be, rather than to seem." The watch's twin in platinum is housed in Geneva's Patek Philippe Museum. The piece is expected to sell between $600,000 and $800,000. Graves also commissioned Patek Philippe to produce an 18 karat yellow gold split second chronograph wristwatch (Ref. 1436) with Breguet numerals, estimated to sell between $200,000 and $300,000. Another 18 karat yellow gold trip minute repeating open faced watch with an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000 was presented by Graves to Fullerton's father as a wedding gift upon his marriage to Graves' daughter in 1926.

Fullerton's collection includes 11 important Patek Philippe perpetual calendars dating from the 1950s to the 1990s. One unusual yellow gold Ref. 2497 estimated at between $300,000 and $500,000 carries an early number designating it as one of the first examples of that coveted model.

Fullerton, who was meticulous about record keeping and daily maintenance, also acquired a number of modern pieces from Rolex, Jaeger LeCoultre, and Breguet. The sale is presenting seven complicated Breguet wristwatches in their original boxes with papers. Fullerton also insisted that his watches' cases and dials never be touched during cleaning and servicing, preserving each piece in pristine original condition.

Patek Philippe 1951 Ref 2497 center seconds perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases and applied 'Cubist' numerals (Est. $300/500,000).

Graves established his legacy as one of history's eminent collectors during the early decades of the 20th century, when he and the Ohio automobile magnate James Ward Packard launched a famous collecting duel as each sought to outdo the other with their commissions. In 1916, Patek Philippe delivered Packard's first extremely complicated pocket watch with 16 horological functions. The development prompted Graves to commission a piece in 1928 that would put Packard's to shame. With a combination of 24 complications, the 1933 Graves Supercomplication remained the most complicated watch ever made until Patek Philippe built the Caliber 89 to commemorate its 150th anniversary in 1989. The Graves magnum opus sold at Sotheby's in 1999 for a record shattering $11 million, which remains the highest price ever paid for a watch or clock. As the bidding skyrocketed above the $5 million high estimate, Patek Philippe's president, Philippe Stern, dropped out only to be consoled by the record price that was achieved. While the Supercomplication remains a holy grail for the Sterns, tomorrow's sale, presents yet another opportunity for Patek Philippe to scoop up some horological treasures for its namesake museum.