The John Shaw Patek Philippe Collection

Christie’s is exceptionally honoured to present The John Shaw Patek Philippe Collection – a superb private collection of both contemporary and vintage masterpieces from the world’s greatest name in watchmaking. By sharing the glories of this formidable collection, John Shaw is delighted to give other collectors and enthusiasts the opportunity to continue the story of these horological treasures.

The Shaw family is very highly respected in Hong Kong, John Shaw’s grandfather was Runde Shaw (1898-1973), who established the Tianyi Film Company in Shanghai in the 1920s. The company became the most prolific film production company in Asia.

As a prominent and passionate collector, John Shaw’s collecting interests encompass many disciplines including cars, fine art, and Chinese classical furniture. His excellent taste and deep appreciation of the highest level of horology is perfectly showcased here with this extremely impressive and varied collection of Patek Philippe watches.

Interestingly, John Shaw is one of the leading authorities and competition judges of pedigree Pekingese dogs, owning and breeding many of the top show dogs in the world. At Crufts, John’s dogs have won ‘Best in Show’ in 2007 and 2024 and obtained the dog world’s most coveted title. John is also the director of the world’s oldest canine newspaper and president of the Hong Kong Kennel Club.

As one of the most venerable of all Swiss watch houses, Patek Philippe needs almost no introduction, having occupied an unassailable position as the greatest of all Geneva watch manufacturers for well over a century and a half. To own a timepiece made by Patek Philippe is to own a mechanical masterpiece that is the distillation of the knowledge and techniques of generations of the worlds most talented watchmakers and designers.

The Patek Philippe watches included in this collection are of equal interest to both the seasoned collector and new private buyer who will certainly appreciate the sheer variety of models in the collection.

A taste of the major highlights of John Shaw’s collection are a variety of complicated wristwatches, each with iconic complications made famous by the brand. The simply breathtaking white gold ‘Celestial’ reference 5102G is an astronomical wristwatch that borrows the principle of the celestial canopy from the most complicated wristwatch ever produced by Patek Philippe – the reference 5002 Sky Moon Tourbillon. Now discontinued for over a decade, reference 5004 is one of the great modern classics, as Patek Philippe’s first serially produced split-seconds perpetual calendar wristwatch it is one of the most important high complications produced in the modern era. Another superb and important modern complication rarity in the collection is the platinum split-seconds chronograph reference 5959P with a rare and ravishingly beautiful black dial. Paying homage to a unique Patek Philippe heritage watch from 1923, the ‘officer’ style ref. 5959 features the company’s first ever in-house made split-seconds chronograph movement with a thickness of only 5.25mm, it was a world record at the time. One of the ultimate trophies for collectors of Patek Philippe is reference 5016, the pink gold version in the John Shaw Collection is a dream piece, when it was introduced in 1993, reference 5016 was the most complicated watch made by the company, it features a minute repeater, a perpetual calendar with retrograde date and a tourbillon. Another of Patek Philippe’s legendary minute repeaters is reference 3979 that was created for the 150th anniversary of the company in 1989. Made in only 100 examples, it is one of the most important wristwatches ever made in series and Patek’s first automatic minute repeater. A further highlight from modern production is the white gold reference 5089G, demonstrating the remarkable artistry of the Rare Handicrafts Division. The remarkable wood marquetry dial is an exquisite and unique hand-made miniature masterpiece.

The John Shaw Collection not only comprises modern Patek Philippe but also includes some highly important vintage wristwatches from the ‘golden’ era of their wristwatch production, a time when design and complication are considered to have been at their most harmoniously perfect during the mid-20^th century. One of the undoubted highlights of the entire collection is an example of the incredibly rare world time reference 542. Modified by Louis Cottier himself, it is one of approximately five known to exist, one of which is in the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva. The collection also includes one of the great classic Patek Philippe world time rarities, the reference 1415. Vintage chronographs are led by two ultra-rare examples: a stainless steel reference 1463 with pulsation scale of which only a very few examples are known, and the equally rare split-seconds reference 1436 of which only around 140 examples were ever made.

Patek Philippe’s Nautilus, perhaps the most recognizable ambassador for the brand is represented by several stellar models: the steel reference 5711/1A green dial and 5711R pink gold; the mid-size steel ref. 3800/1A; the calendar moon phase reference 5712G in white gold, and also in white gold the gorgeous perpetual calendar reference 5740/1G with blue sunburst dial.

These formidable timepieces are just a few highlights of this incredible collection that is not only testament to the taste and discernment of John Shaw, but also to the care with which each individual watch has been carefully selected for either its complexity, or conversely its simplicity, and of course aesthetic beauty. The John Shaw Collection provides international collectors and Patek Philippe enthusiasts the privileged opportunity to view, to admire and perhaps to possess any of the exclusive timepieces from this carefully assembled private collection. 

Explore more: Hong Kong Auctions