May 24, 2026, 2:40 p.mMay 24, 2026, 2:42 p.m
For a mere $200,000 to $400,000, you can be the next owner of Warhol’s Patek Philippe.Image: Christie’s
There is hardly a sales argument on the auction market that is as effective as the statement “formerly owned by Andy Warhol”. If you combine this with the name Patek Philippe, it is almost inevitable that there will be a bidding war between collectors and watch lovers.
That’s exactly what should happen next June 12th, when Christie’s An elegant Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 570 from the American artist’s private collection was auctioned in New York. The watch, one of the iconic models of the Swiss house’s simple and refined post-war design, is estimated at $200,000 to $400,000 (156,000 to 313,000 francs).
It is a particularly sought-after example because it is “double signed”: In addition to the Patek Philippe trademark, the dial also bears the signature of the historic Italian retailer Hausmann & Co.
The story of this clock is part of one of the largest art collection auctions ever organized. In 1988, a year after Warhol’s death, Sotheby’s auctioned off more than 10,000 objects belonging to the artist in a marathon ten-day auction for a total of $25.3 million.
After the main auction, more than 90 watches and jewelry were discovered by chance, hidden in a secret drawer of a cabinet that had belonged to Warhol. This unexpected treasure subsequently brought in another $1.6 million.
The Calatrava Ref. 570 had already gone under the hammer at Christie’s in 2021 and achieved $150,000, which was above the original high estimate of $95,000. (sda/adn)