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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minutePatek Philippe’s Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication sold at Sotheby’s Geneva on 11 November 2014 for CHF 23,237,000—about US$24 million. Sotheby’s called it a world record at the time; Guinness World Records currently lists it as the most expensive pocket watch sold at auction. That record is specific to pocket watches, not every kind of watch or timepiece.
What was the Supercomplication?
The Supercomplication is a one-off Patek Philippe pocket watch commissioned by American banker and collector Henry Graves Jr. It is a bespoke historical object, not a model available for purchase from Patek Philippe today. Sotheby’s says Graves commissioned it more than five years before taking delivery in 1933. The auction catalog records an inscription on the watch: “Made for Henry Graves Jr, New York 1932 by Patek, Philippe & Co.” The inscription’s 1932 date and the reported 1933 delivery refer to different events.
Sotheby’s describes the watch as having 24 complications and being designed and made without computer assistance. Its double dial and intricate functions made it a major horological commission as well as a valuable auction lot. Sotheby’s retrospective recounts the commission, delivery and sale history, while its 2014 catalog entry gives the lot description and inscription.
How much did it sell for?
The precise reported result was CHF 23,237,000 at Sotheby’s Geneva sale on 11 November 2014. Sotheby’s gave the rounded equivalent as approximately US$24 million. The Swiss-franc amount is the auction result; dollar equivalents can vary with exchange rates and rounding, so the two figures should not be treated as separate prices.
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The result surpassed the watch’s 1999 Sotheby’s auction sale of $11 million. Sotheby’s retrospective says that earlier sale made it the most expensive watch sold at auction at the time; the 2014 sale then set a new record. These are historical auction prices, not current market estimates or an indication of what a similar watch would cost: this commission is unique.
What record does it hold?
Sotheby’s described the 2014 result as a new world record at the time. Guinness World Records currently lists the Graves Supercomplication as the most expensive pocket watch sold at auction. The category matters: that listing does not establish that it is the highest-priced wristwatch or the most expensive timepiece of every kind. Auction rankings can also change, so a record claim should identify its category and date.
Rank #2
Why the sale mattered
The sale joined a singular object to a notable collecting history: a bespoke watch commissioned by Graves, sold at auction in 1999 for $11 million, and then sold again in 2014 for CHF 23,237,000. Sotheby’s has also described it as the second most expensive Patek Philippe sold, a separate brand-specific ranking that may change as later auctions occur.
Daryn Schnipper, Sotheby’s Senior Vice President and Chairman, recalled the moment of the 2014 result: “When the hammer fell and it was sold for $24 million, I believe I was moved to tears.” Sotheby’s interview identifies her and recounts the sale.
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- SEE TIME COME TO LIFE Enjoy watching time move, not just pass. Skeleton dial and exhibition case-back reveal the inner mechanism, making it a standout piece for collectors and anyone who appreciates mechanical design.
- TRACK TIME ACROSS LOCATIONS Stay aware of time beyond your current location. Dual time GMT subdial helps track a second time zone, while the sun and moon display shows day and night at a glance.
- NO BATTERY, JUST WIND AND GO Use it without worrying about charging or batteries. Mechanical movement powered by hand-winding keeps it running smoothly with a simple daily routine.
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- Case Size: 48.50 millimeter; Case Thickness: 10.20 millimeter
- Swiss quartz movement, 316L stainless steel case, Roman dial type, date
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