Exclusive Patek Philippe auction in Stuttgart: Eppli auctions off top-class items worth millions

Lovers, collectors and connoisseurs of luxury timepieces can look forward to a spectacular special auction on 5 September 2025: Eppli will be offering 25 outstanding watches from Patek Philippe. These include coveted classics such as the Nautilus and Ellipse, as well as masterpieces of absolute rarity. One highlight of the auction is the Grande Complication with the reference 5016R-010, one of the most complicated watches ever made by Patek Philippe. With only 200 examples worldwide, this model is one of the most sought-after collector's items. Its estimated price is between £340,000 and £740,000. Another gem of fine watchmaking is a white gold minute repeater for ladies, which is entering the race with an estimated price of up to €450,000.

Patek Philippe is synonymous with unrivalled watchmaking tradition, precision engineering expertise and masterful timepieces that are unmatched in terms of quality and craftsmanship. The traditional Geneva-based brand has been shaping haute horlogerie for generations and continues to set standards in technology and design to this day: ‘We have been able to secure exquisite pieces for this special auction that would otherwise appear at Sotheby's, Christie's or Phillips in New York, Geneva or Hong Kong – but only very rarely in Stuttgart. We are very proud of this,’ says Eppli watch expert Peter Dwornik.

Technical masterpiece: The Reference 5016R-010

The Reference 5016R-010 (catalogue number 22) from the Patek Philippe Grandes Complications series is likely to arouse great desire – at least among prospective buyers with the appropriate budget. The Reference 5016 was produced from 1993 to 2011, but with a total production run of only around 200 pieces. It combines a tourbillon, a minute repeater and a perpetual calendar in an 18-carat rose gold case. The hand-wound RTO 27 PS-QR movement consists of 356 individual parts and features a retrograde date display as well as a moon phase and leap year indicator. The tourbillon and the repeater can be admired at work through the viewing window in the case back. This concentrated technical finesse is packaged in an elegant case measuring just 36.7 mm. The watch belonged to an elderly gentleman from the Stuttgart area, who purchased it in 2006 from Beyer in Zurich, the oldest watch shop in the world. It is being offered as a ‘full set’ with its original box, warranty certificate, chronometer certificate, additional rose gold case back and adjustment pin. The starting price for the watch, including commission, is €400,000, with an estimated price of between €400,000 and €850,000.

‘If the item is sold, it would be the highest sale price for a watch in Eppli's history. The record is currently held by a Patek Philippe pocket watch, which changed hands for €260,000 at our Best Of auction in 2023,’ says Dwornik.

Auction of superlatives

The Rare Handcrafts Minute Repeater Reference 7040/250G-001 (catalogue number 20) in white gold could also fetch a record-breaking price. The hand-guilloché gold dial is coated with blue Grand Feu enamel. The bezel is set with a double row of 168 brilliant-cut diamonds, set using the ‘flame’ technique. ‘This watch is a current ladies' model that can be purchased at our auction for a price well below the current retail price,’ explains Dwornik. The starting price is 240,000 euros including commission, with an estimated price of up to 450,000 euros.

Another highlight is reference 3940 (catalogue number 15): an extremely rare vintage Patek Philippe with the additional signature ‘Beyer’ on the dial. This model, launched in 1985 to mark the 225th anniversary of jeweller Beyer, was also intended to highlight the friendly relationship between the then owners Philippe Stern and Theodore Beyer. The example being auctioned by Eppli comes from the first series and, in addition to its special dial, features a calibre 240-Q automatic movement with perpetual calendar. The watch will go under the hammer with an estimate of 40,000 euros.

The Patek Philippe Calatrava Reference 2551 (catalogue number 10) from the 1950s, also known by its nickname ‘Disco Volante’, is also technically very interesting. What makes this watch special is its automatic movement – the legendary calibre 12-600 AT, Patek Philippe's very first self-winding movement. It is considered by collectors to be one of the finest automatic movements in watch history. This watch is also signed ‘Beyer’ on the dial, which further increases its desirability. The starting price for this exciting piece of watch history is 12,000 euros including commission.

Curated and diverse

The ‘Patek Only’ auction covers an impressive range: from vintage icons to current masterpieces, from starting prices in the four-figure range to the upper luxury league: "With this mix, we hope to appeal to as wide an audience as possible and achieve a number of sales. Whether we will break a new record remains to be seen – we would of course be very happy if we did," adds Dwornik.

The ‘Patek Only’ special auction will take place on 5 September 2025 from 2 p.m. at the new Eppli Haus, Sporerstraße 8. The watches are already on display there for previewing. The Eppli website provides an overview of all items to be auctioned and their starting prices. You can also bid live from anywhere in the world: ‘Patek Only’ special auction of luxury and vintage watches

Please note: Some auctions have hidden minimum prices. If the highest bid does not reach the minimum price set by the seller, the bid will be accepted with reservation – even if the bid is above the starting price.

Press contact:

Eppli Haus Stuttgart
Peter Riemer
Sporerstraße 8
70173 Stuttgart
+49 (0)711 - 997 008 141
[email protected]