A Rare Patek Philippe Watch Heads to Auction, Tied to Imperial History
Watches from the renowned Swiss firm Patek Philippe, once connected to the last Qing dynasty emperor Pu Yi, are set to be auctioned by Phillips. Bloomberg reported the sale is part of a historic collection drawing international attention.
Until recently, the timepiece remained in the family circle of Pu Yi’s translator, Georgy Permyakov, a close associate during the former ruler’s wartime confinement in the Soviet Union. Before Pu Yi left for China, he gifted the translator with a notebook containing Pu Yi’s notes, the clock itself, and a red paper fan that is also slated for auction. A European collector who acquired Permyakov’s heirs’ items a few years back is presenting all pieces to the market.
Pu Yi, the tenth ruler of the Manchu Aisin Gioro lineage, was proclaimed emperor in 1908 at the age of two. The Xinhai Revolution of 1911–1912 toppled the Qing dynasty and led to the Republic of China. Pu Yi kept his official title briefly, but in 1924, at eighteen, he was dethroned, stripped of titles, and expelled from the Forbidden City in Beijing, where he had lived as monarch.
In 1925 he relocated to the Japanese concession in Tianjin, effectively running a court in exile with support from the Japanese government. Soviet troops captured him in Mukden in August 1945, and he spent five years in solitary confinement at Lubyanka.
In 1949 Pu Yi wrote to Joseph Stalin, stating that his perspective had shifted after encountering the works of Marx and Lenin. He returned to China in 1950 and was sent to Fushun prison for war criminals. He was released in 1959 after being deemed rehabilitated.
Following release, Pu Yi worked as an archivist in a Beijing botanical garden and later at the national library. In 1964 he joined the PRC’s political advisory body and passed away in 1967.
The Patek Philippe Reference 96 Quantieme Lune, the centerpiece of the auction, is anticipated to achieve a seven‑figure price due to its extreme rarity and historical associations.
In related news, Andy Warhol’s wristwatch is also reported to be heading to auction, underscoring a broader interest in iconic wristwear with storied provenance.