Patek Philippe 1518
The 1518 is where modern complicated watchmaking begins: the first perpetual calendar chronograph made in series. Patek made only about 281 over 13 years, almost all in gold. A steel example sold at Phillips in 2016 for more than $11 million, which was a world record for a wristwatch at the time. Today, gold examples in good condition regularly cross the million-dollar mark at auction.
Who it’s for
The top tier of collectors and institutions. Anyone else will enjoy following its auction prices as a barometer of the high-end watch market.
Buying tips
- Transactions at this level happen through major auction houses and top private dealers, with archive extracts and expert condition reports.
- Dial variants, case condition and provenance matter enormously, so read condition reports closely.
- This page tracks published auction results, which you can add in the price tracker as “auction” data points.
| Brand | Patek Philippe |
|---|---|
| Reference | 1518 |
| Case size | 35 mm |
| Case material | Mostly yellow or rose gold; four known in steel |
| Movement | Hand-wound perpetual calendar chronograph, calibre 13-130 Q (Valjoux 13''' base) |
| Crystal | Acrylic |
| Production | 1941 – 1954 (about 281 made) |
| Typical market price | around $1,000,000 (estimate; see tracked prices) |
Patek Philippe 1518 price history
How we measure: eBay figures are the median of matching US listings after removing accessories, parts and statistical outliers. "Asking" means listed prices; "sold" means completed sales. Retailer prices are spot checks. Prices change constantly; confirm on the retailer's site.
