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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Grande complication pocket watch · Switzerland

Patek Philippe Graves Supercomplication

Partially verified

Commissioned by American banker Henry Graves Jr., reportedly in a competition of horological one-upmanship with fellow collector James Ward Packard; the rivalry narrative is widely repeated in auction-house and company materials and is treated here as documented commercial history rather than independently re-verified primary correspondence.

Technical facts

Complications
24 complications including a celestial chart of the New York night sky as seen from Graves's residence
Case
Gold, double open-face hunter form
Development time
Approximately eight years of design and construction, per Patek Philippe's published account

Historical significance

  • Commissioned by American banker Henry Graves Jr., reportedly in a competition of horological one-upmanship with fellow collector James Ward Packard; the rivalry narrative is widely repeated in auction-house and company materials and is treated here as documented commercial history rather than independently re-verified primary correspondence.
  • Held the title of most complicated portable mechanical timepiece for decades after its completion.
  • Sold at Sotheby's in 2014 for a widely reported price; specific auction prices should always be cited with the sale house, date and currency rather than repeated as a bare figure, since currency conversions and 'record price' framing vary between reports.

Sources & references

  1. Patek Philippe Museum, published history of the Graves Supercomplication
  2. Sotheby's, sale catalogue and press materials for the 2014 sale (for auction facts specifically)

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.