quattro
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18378
Dream watch
This completely unrestored Patek Philippe Ref. 514 in steel is believed to have been gifted by King Umberto, one of the last kings of Italy, to the family of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi.
It was recently acquired by Paul E. aka Aircooltime, a collector from Colorado, who tells the whole story on his Aircooltime's Substack.
When asked, during the 2025 Rolliefest, what he was wearing, here's what he answered to Victoria Gomelsky from Robb Report (read the article here):
“This was a watch that was gifted to a family in Italy, a famous composer’s family. His name was Giuseppe Verdi. It was in the family from around 1939 until the present. And it was brought to market by another member of the family. The individual who got it contacted me. They knew my tastes. So I ended up buying it very early this past year. It’s one of only seven in the world known in steel. And the thing that makes it unique is it’s also unrestored. The other six have had some level of restoration done. And it’s hard to see with my eyes, but it says ‘Eberhard Milan’ on the dial, which was a retailer at the time in Italy. The backside of it is interesting, too, because it’s got an inscription from the royal family. The belief is that it was gifted by King Umberto, one of the last kings of Italy, to that family, and stayed in the family’s possession for that whole time. So it’s got the combination of rarity, condition from the standpoint of never being restored, and the provenance that, to me, makes it really a very interesting watch.”
Ref. 514 was the source of inspiration of the Tourbillon ref. 5101, as I have shown in my dedicated overview.
Best, Emmanuel
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Dream watch
This completely unrestored Patek Philippe Ref. 514 in steel is believed to have been gifted by King Umberto , one of the last kings of Italy, to the family of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. It was recently acquired by Paul E. aka Aircooltime , a collect...
My pleasure!
I hope I will get my hand someday on one of these rectangular 1930-40s Pateks. Best, Emmanuel
So...
It's a Patek in steel... It's in a completely unrestored original condition... It has the original box... It was consigned by the family of the original owner who happened to be Giuseppe Verdi... It has the Savoia crest on the back... It's double-signed P...
You have a point.
But it’s also wonderful that such a watch is actually worn. When I saw the sky-rocketing results of the recent Decade One Phillips auction, my thought was: so many beautiful watches which will spend the next 20 years in a safe… 😭 Best, Emmanuel
Such a complete package
A regal reference and specimen. You Wear it proudly: sizeable but very delicate at the same time
Not mine, unfortunately.
But I agree that it looks great on the wrist of Aircooltime! Best, Emmanuel
Hi Emmanuel, the fact that it is unpolished makes it now a
unique watch given the others were polished ! 👍 What a great find 😇
Yes, I would have loved to have the opportunity to get such a piece.
514 are pretty hard to find. Best, Emmanuel
I would love too, but I doubt that Aircooltime will ever consider selling it.
Meeting him and trying the watch on might be possible though...
