$10 Million Patek Philippe Star Caliber 2000 at Sotheby's Abu Dhabi December 2025

Never-before-seen Patek Philippe Star Caliber 2000 makes its auction debut. Made to mark the millennium, the set of four unique pocketwatches headlines Sotheby’s inaugural Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week on 5 December. Presented in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Investment Office. Estimated to achieve in excess of $10 million. Second highest estimate for any watch at auction.

The Star Caliber 2000 is an unprecedented feat that changed the history of watchmaking. Even among the world’s most elite collectors, the Star Caliber 2000 is something of a myth—whispered about, but rarely encountered. To offer a complete, previously unknown set, in untouched condition, is the kind of opportunity that surfaces once in a generation—if ever.” Sam Hines, Sotheby’s Global Chairman, Watches.

New York, September 2025 – In a landmark moment for the world of haute horology, Sotheby’s, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), is proud to announce the upcoming sale of a complete four-piece set of the Patek Philippe Star Caliber 2000 — one of the most technically sophisticated and aesthetically awe-inspiring timepieces ever produced.

Developed to mark the dawn of the new millennium, the Star Caliber 2000 represents the culmination of seven years of intensive research and innovation by the legendary Swiss manufacturer. Ranked as the third most complicated Patek in the world—surpassed only by Patek Philippe’s own Caliber 89 and the Henry Graves Supercomplication—the Star Caliber 2000 remains relatively unknown, even among seasoned collectors. That is likely to change this December, when this neverbefore- seen set will be offered as part of a landmark single-owner collection of watches and jewelry on 5 December during Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week. Estimated in excess of $10 million, it carries the second-highest pre-sale estimate for any watch at auction—surpassed only by the Henry Graves Supercomplication, which sold at Sotheby’s in 2014 for a record-breaking $24 million.

The Star Caliber 2000 is just one of the many unmissable treasures showcased at Abu Dhabi Collectors' Week, an exclusive programme of auctions, masterclasses, panel discussions, and exhibitions, presented in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is the government vehicle responsible for accelerating Abu Dhabi’s growth and enabling the emirate’s economic transformation. Set against the stunning backdrop of The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi, this prestigious event unites the worlds of art, design, fine jewelry, watches, real estate, and collectible automobiles in celebration of rarity, beauty, and exclusivity.

Patek Philippe: A Legacy of Supercomplications

For over 185 years, Patek Philippe has stood at the forefront of horological innovation, renowned not only for its technical mastery but also for its legacy in creating some of the most complex timepieces the world has ever seen. This tradition of excellence in creating supercomplications began in 1927, when American financier Henry Graves Jr. commissioned the firm to craft the most complicated pocketwatch of its time. After six years of development, Patek Philippe delivered the Henry Graves Supercomplication in 1933—an extraordinary pocket watch with 24 complications, a record that stood unchallenged for more than half a century.

That milestone was eclipsed in 1989, when Patek Philippe unveiled the Caliber 89 to commemorate its 150th anniversary. Featuring a staggering 33 complications and 1,728 components, it redefined the limits of mechanical watchmaking.

As the year 2000 approached, the watchmaking world waited with anticipation as to how Patek Philippe would commemorate the dawn of a new millennium. The answer came in the form of the Star Caliber 2000—a magnificent creation housing 21 complications and 1,118 intricately finished components, firmly securing its place among the most complicated timepieces ever made.

The Star Caliber 2000: A Horlogical Tour de Force

The Star Caliber 2000 is defined by a remarkable level of innovation, underscored by its achievement of six patents — for the chime, the running equation of time, the display of sunset and sunrise, the rotations of the sky and moon, the rapid calendar corrector and the dualsided sprung covers, operated by a push-and-rotate Calatrava-cross on the bow. The Westminster Chimes are a faithful reproduction of the sounds of London’s “Big Ben,” successfully striking two identical tones in immediate succession, something no other watch has ever been able to achieve. *More info on the six patented innovations can be found below*

Patek Philippe approached the challenge of marking the new century not by packing in as many complications as possible, but by selecting those that shape our understanding of time and govern our daily lives. The Star Caliber 2000 is a triumph of innovation and artistry – a testament to the brand’s pursuit of excellence, its desire to inspire wonder, and its deep reverence for the extraordinary world of horology.” Sam Hines, Sotheby’s Global Chairman, Watches.

The Dial-side is devoted to time measurement, even indicating the time of sunrise and sunset, and the running equation of time – synchronized by the perpetual calendar, enables the reader to observe local mean time and the true solar time simultaneously. The Celestial side portrays a mobile Sky chart, visualizing the moon and stars. A golden ellipse frames the visible part of the heavens with respect to a given point of observation, a given time and given date. Watches like the Sky Moon Tourbillon reference 5002 (introduced just a year later in 2001) and the Grand Complications Celestial reference 5102 utilize a similar style of sky chart and, in the case of the former, a similar two-dial layout.

Patek Philippe entrusted legendary casemaker Jean-Pierre Hagmann with crafting the cases for the Star Caliber 2000, for which he produced four exquisite halfhunter examples—each rendered in yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, and platinum. His bassine-style cases featured Renaissance-inspired ironwork engraving and chased details. To enhance both function and beauty, master engraver Christian Thibert pierced and engraved the front and back covers—allowing the chimes to resonate more clearly and adding visual poetry to the celestial design. The swirling acanthus leaf motifs remain among the most celebrated examples of engraved casework in modern horology.

A Moment of Discovery

Presented as a complete set of four unique Star Caliber 2000 timepieces—each with 21 complications—this collection is cased in all four precious metals and accompanied by matching chains and its original bespoke presentation box.

Long hidden from public view, these four spectacular watches will take even the most seasoned collectors by surprise. In fact, only one example of the Star Caliber 2000 (in yellow gold) has been offered at auction since the model was introduced, selling for $3.3 million in 2012. The upcoming sale in December marks the first time a complete Star Caliber 2000 set has ever been offered publicly, establishing a historic milestone in the world of haute horology.

The Six Patented Innovations

Selective Opening Covers

Traditionally, pocket watches would be fitted with a slide in the case, a push piece in the bow or a knife would be needed to open the case covers. The Star Caliber 2000 gives us a completely new approach. By simply rotating the bow 180 degrees in the direction the arrow is indicating, the case will open on the side where the Calatrava cross is facing.

Chime

The movement for the Star Caliber 2000 allows the watch to successfully play the Westminster Chimes correctly. The watch strikes two identical tones in immediate succession, something no other watch has been able to do.

Running Equation of Time

Equation of time is the name given to the difference between mean solar time and true solar time. Mechanical watches use a special cam mechanism to display the difference, however, if the equation of time is not synchronized with the calendar indicators on the device, it will not be accurate. To correct these errors, the watch would need to be completely taken apart. Patek Philippe overcame these issues by allowing the perpetual calendar mechanism to control the cam.

Sunrise and Sunset

Sunrise and sunset are dictated by the date, and the indicators are controlled by the cams. If the watch is not synchronized properly, the device will not be accurate. To correct these errors, the watch has to be manually taken apart. As with the running equation of time, Patek Philippe chose to have the perpetual calendar mechanism control this cam, making the time of sunrise and sunset always corresponding to the correct date.

The sunrise and sunset indication performs one full revolution every 72 hours. During each revolution, each of the three suns passes through the aperture once. The cams that control this complication rotate about their axes once each year. The result is a stunning display of the variable duration of a day between sunrise and sunset.

Rapid Calendar Correction

Complicated mechanical watches left unworn for a period of time take a huge amount of effort to adjust so that the relevant indicators are accurate. The Star Caliber 2000, however, has a rapid calendar corrector which with one single push, the user can advance all calendar indicators, including the time of sunrise and sunset, and the running of equation of time forward by almost a month at a time.

Sky and Moon

The design for the Star Caliber 2000 makes it possible for the celestial dial to display many more stars than other straight pocket watch designs. Where the moon phases would predictably be displayed within a subsidiary dial and the lunar orbit indicated with a small hand, the Star Caliber 2000 gives true display that is only slightly affected due to size restrictions.

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