Eric Clapton is a prodigious collector. We all know that. After all, I just pointed out a fake Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 once owned by the legendary guitarist that will be available this weekend at Phillips, but Christie’s has sourced a pretty cool 1:1 replica Patek Philippe with Slowhand provenance of its own, as well.
The perfect replica Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar ref. 1526 seen here isn’t the first time it’s come across Christie’s rostrum. You might recall that, way back in 2003, Christie’s hosted an auction in New York that included a large selection of high quality fake watches consigned directly by Clapton himself. The upcoming Daytona at Phillips was sold there, and so was this little yellow gold 34mm QP from Patek.
Now, if you know your QP history, you’ll understand that the UK AAA replica Patek Philippe 1526 is a pretty important little watch, with or without Slowhand’s name attached to it. It was the first perpetual calendar wristwatch ever produced in series, from anyone anywhere, and only 210 examples (mostly in yellow gold, like this example) are believed to have been produced, from 1941 to 1952.
Briggs Cunningham owned a particularly sweet example, but the Clapton Swiss movement fake Patek Philippe is no slouch either, featuring a third-series, Mark 1 dial. It’s consigned today directly from the individual who purchased it 19 years ago for $77,675.
(Interestingly, this is one of the few high-profile Patek Philippe fake for sale in the sale not to come from the Kairos Collection.) Christie’s believes it will end up slightly higher than that figure, with an estimate of CHF 80,000 to 120,000. I agree.
