220 Patek Philippe An incredibly rare, sought after, and very collectible, Perpetual calendar, moon phases chronograph wristwatch in yellow gold, with extract from the archives, reference 1518.

Estimate: € 650.000 –⁠ 1.300.000

There are watches that tell time, and there are watches that tell history. The Patek Philippe reference 1518 does both — and it does so with such eloquence that it transcends the category of wristwatch altogether. It is, in every respect, a cornerstone of 20th-century horology. Introduced in 1941, amidst the turmoil of global war, the 1518 stood as a symbol of serene innovation. It was the world’s first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch to be produced in series — not a technical prototype or bespoke commission, but a visionary creation offered to those few who could both understand and afford its ingenuity. But beyond its groundbreaking mechanics lies a purity of design that defies age. Its 35mm yellow gold case, sculpted by the revered casemaker Emile Vichet, carries with it a graceful strength — with long, arched lugs, a polished bezel, and that restrained yet confident silhouette only Vichet could deliver. Beneath the sapphire lies a silvered dial that whispers more than it shouts: crisp enamel scales, sharp calendar apertures, and a moonphase display that seems almost poetic in its restraint. The present watch, produced in 1949 and sold in 1951, is a remarkable find also because of its condition. The case remains full and well preserved, with a more solid design and the presence of double French hallmarks; the dial beautifully preserved with no signs of tampering, and the hard enamel still deep and vivid. It is rare to encounter a 1518 at all. Rarer still to find one that feels so magnetic. And when it happens, it becomes something greater: a chapter of watchmaking history passed down, unchanged, from one hand to the next. The present timepiece is legible for Tortella & Sons’ deep study upon request of the client.