Historic First: Patek Philippe Star Caliber 2000 Set Heads to Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi
A rare complete four-piece set of Patek Philippe’s Star Caliber 2000 pocket watches will be auctioned by Sotheby’s on December 5 in Abu Dhabi. The set is valued at more than $10 million and represents one of the most ambitious projects in modern horology.
With an estimate exceeding $10 million, the Star Caliber 2000 set could achieve one of the highest prices ever for Patek Philippe pocket watches at auction. For context, Sotheby’s global watch sales totaled $158.3 million in 2024; when the Star Caliber debuted in 2000, that figure was only $26.8 million, showing how far the market has expanded.
The Legacy of the Star Caliber 2000
Unveiled in 2000, the Star Caliber 2000 was created to celebrate the new millennium. Each double-sided pocket watch consists of 1,118 components and 21 complications; six of its mechanisms were patented. Notably, the timepiece includes a chiming system that produces two identical tones in rapid succession to correctly replicate the Westminster Chimes.
The watch measures 73.22 millimeters in diameter and was produced in only five complete sets , four in mixed precious metals and one entirely in platinum. Much about the series remains undisclosed, which has only added to its reputation as one of Patek Philippe’s most complex achievements.
Auction and Market Context
This sale marks the first time a complete set has appeared at public auction. A single yellow-gold version was sold in 2012 by Christie’s, but a four-piece ensemble has never been offered before. Sotheby’s reported global watch sales of $158.3 million in 2024, a sharp rise compared with $26.8 million when the Star Caliber was released. The upcoming auction will also feature other high-value consignments, including the 31.86-carat Desert Rose diamond and a Rolex Oyster Albino Daytona Ref. 6263.
Sotheby’s decision to hold the sale in Abu Dhabi reflects both the company’s regional investment ties and the Middle East’s growing influence in the luxury watch market. Collectors from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman have become increasingly prominent; the region now accounts for a significant share of global demand.
Innovation and Influence
The development of the Star Caliber 2000 required nearly a decade of research and development under the direction of Patek Philippe president Philippe Stern. According to Sotheby’s global chairman of watches, Sam Hines, the model was designed to combine technical mastery with practical functions, including astronomical data such as sunrise, sunset, and the date of Easter.
Industry experts note that the innovations of the Star Caliber directly influenced later wristwatch masterpieces, such as the Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref. 5002 and the Grand Complications Celestial Ref. 6102. For collectors, the Star Caliber represents both a pinnacle of mechanical engineering and a bridge to subsequent generations of Patek complications.
As bidding approaches, one question remains: will the new owner of this $10 million set emerge from the Middle East, or from another corner of the global collecting community? Either way, the sale underlines the Star Caliber’s place at the very top tier of watchmaking history.
