An auction is being held for a Patek Philippe timepiece once owned by the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty

Later this year, a Patek Philippe watch once owned by China’s last emperor of the Qing dynasty, Aisin-Gioro Puyi, will go up for auction.

Until Mar 31, the exceptionally rare Ref 96 Quantieme Lune will be on display at Phillips’ new Asia headquarters in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District. The watch is accompanied by other cultural artefacts owned by Puyi, including an inscribed paper fan, a manuscript notebook, watercolour artwork, and a leather-bound copy of Confucius’ Analects.

Due to its rarity and historical provenance, the watch could easily fetch millions of dollars at auction later this year in New York, Singapore, London, Taipei, and Geneva.

AISIN-GIORO PUYI: WHO IS HE?

During the Chinese Revolution in 1912, Puyi abdicated the throne after being crowned in 1908, when he was barely three years old. Bernardo Bertolucci filmed the story in 1987. Until 1924, when a coup forced him out of the palace, Puyi was allowed to retain his title and live there.

During World War II, Puyi served as Japan’s puppet emperor of Manchuria. He was captured by the Soviets and imprisoned in Russia for five years before returning to China. Puyi developed a close friendship with his translator, Georgy Permyakov, during his time in Russia.

It is unknown how Puyi acquired the watch, but he eventually passed it on to Permyakov. Upon Permyakov’s death in 2005, the watch passed to his estate.

WHAT MAKES THE WATCH SO SPECIAL?

There are only seven Patek Philippe Ref 96 complications known to exist, making this watch the eighth. A Phillips expert claims that only two examples have previously emerged with the exact dial configuration of the current Ref 96, which includes an enamel Arabic “Roulette” pattern. A platinum case was used for both examples, which now belongs to the Patek Philippe Museum, while the second was sold in 1996 to a private collector.