I recently had the opportunity to tell you about a truly singular watch, made unique and sought after in the world of collectibles thanks to its artistic engravings. Today I find myself telling you about another equally extraordinary timepiece, which sold for an impressive EUR 7,200,000 and was the star of a special occasion: the Children Action Gala 2024, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year.
For this exclusive occasion, Patek Philippe has realized to create a one-of-a-kind piece from the famous Nautilus line, literally leaving collectors and lovers of fine watchmaking speechless. This watch, unlike any other in its collection, is distinguished by the intricate engravings that entirely adorn the case and bracelet, making it a true work of art.
The Children Action Gala
The Children Action Gala is a biennial charity event organized by the foundation of the same name, based in Geneva. Founded in 1994 by Swiss entrepreneur Bernard Sabrier, the foundation is dedicated to concretely improving the lives of children and youth in need around the world. Through its projects, it has already supported more than 215,000 children through educational, health and cultural initiatives.
The gala represents a key time to raise funds by offering a restricted and prestigious selection of items for auction, often pieces of great artistic, cultural or collector value. In this edition, one of the highlights was the stunning Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711/1500A, a unique creation made specifically to support the foundation’s projects.
Patek Philippe Ref. 5711/1500A
This extraordinary specimen takes as its starting point one of Patek Philippe’s most iconic models, the Nautilusin steel, in this case featuring a dark gray dial with a horizontal brushed finish. On the back, the sapphire crystal allows a glimpse of the 26-330SC movement, enhanced by a special dedicated engraving: “Children Auction 2024.”
What makes this watch truly unique are, as anticipated, the sophisticated engravings that decorate the case, bezel, bracelet, and even parts of the case back. The motif of the engravings is inspired by the Māori culture of New Zealand, a stylistic element that is a first for the brand.
Although this is a novel experiment for Patek Philippe, the design fits harmoniously into the maison’s aesthetic tradition, recalling other famous models that incorporate engravings and artistic details. These include the Ref. 6002R Sky Moon Tourbillon, the Ref. 5160/500R, and the majestic Ref. 5175R Grandmaster Chime, which share the same ability to combine technique and art into a single masterpiece.
The cufflinks paired with the Patek Philippe Nautilus Children Action.
To complement this exceptional offering, Patek Philippe has created a pair of matching cufflinks designed to echo the aesthetics of the Nautilus. These accessories echo the iconic shape of the case and the design of the dial, which are also embellished with the same artistic engravings found on the watch. A detail that adds further exclusivity to the lot, making it a complete and unrepeatable set.
The selling price of the Patek Philippe Nautilus Children Action
It was easy to predict that this unique piece would reach an astronomical sum at auction, given the achievements of previous steel Nautilus models on the secondary market. A case in point are the 170 examples made in collaboration with Tiffany, or the green dial models, which were never included in the catalog and became objects of desire for collectors worldwide.
The final price of this unique engraved Nautilus, which reached an impressive CHF 6,700,000 (approximately EUR 7,200,000), confirms not only the attractiveness of Patek Philippe’s 1/1 creations, but also the extraordinary versatility of the Nautilus design. This model demonstrates how small but significant details can transform a watchmaking icon into a unique piece of inestimable value.
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