223 Patek Philippe An incredibly rare and highly sought after, chronograph wristwatch in pink gold, with two-tone dial retailed by Le Palais Royal Habana, reference 533.

Estimate: € 70.000 –⁠ 140.000

Produced between 1937 and 1957 in very limited numbers, reference 533 is distinguished by its flat, angular bezel and elegant elongated lugs. It remains one of the most aesthetically satisfying chronographs of the era. It is believed that only around 350 examples were ever made, and among those, pink gold specimens—such as the one offered here—occupy an exalted tier of rarity. The present example impresses with its strong case proportions, crisp hallmark beneath the lug, and the noble presence of a two-tone silvered dial. One immediately notices the harmony of its design: the typography of the very rare telemeter scale, the graceful pushers, and the warm glow of the pink gold case, all working together in quiet but unwavering confidence. Yet this watch its further important thanks to the prestigious retailer signature “Le Palais Royal, Habana.” To our knowledge, this is the only known pink gold reference 533 ever retailed by Le Palais Royal in Havana to have appeared at auction. This venerable boutique, nestled at the heart of Havana where Obispo and Compostela meet, was one of the most important Patek Philippe agents in Latin America during the 20th century. Its clientele included not just socialites and statesmen, but also infamous personalities from a more clandestine world. Legend has it that Al Capone himself visited the boutique, acquiring three Patek Philippes in cash: one for himself, one for his chief bodyguard, and one for the Cuban vice president Rafael Guas Inclán. Whether apocryphal or not, these tales lend an undeniable mystique to the retailer and the watches it sold. What we offer here is a bridge to a lost world of elegance, intrigue, and Havana’s golden age.