A Patek Philippe Reference 96 Quantieme Lune – once belonging to Aisin-Gioro Puyi, the last Emperor of the Qing dynasty – sold for US$6.2 million and set three records: the highest result for any Patek Philippe reference 96 ever sold, a record of any wristwatch previously owned by Emperors that have been auctioned, and the most valuable lot ever sold by Phillips Watches in Asia. Born in 1906, Aisin-Gioro Puyi was the last Emperor of the Qing dynasty, ascending the throne when only three years old. When the Japanese forces surrendered in 1945, Puyi was captured at Shenyang Airport by the Soviet Red Army. His life was later dramatised by Bernardo Bertolucci’s movie, “The Last Emperor”. Puyi gifted the watch to his friend, the interpreter Georgy Permyakov. This timepiece is the eighth known example of Reference 96 with triple date and moon phase. The watch in a platinum Calatrava case features a dial with Arabic numerals paired with matching pink gold ring and Feuille hands. Housed within the timepiece is a 11’’’ Victorin Piguet ébauche movement.
Image copyright: Phillips/Jess Hoffman
