GENEVA:

The stainless steel Patek Philippe, manufactured in 1943, returns to Phillips at the Decade One auction in Geneva this November – a rare opportunity for collectors, similar to a red diamond or to a one-off Ferrari.

Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant at Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, is full of anticipation as he prepares to open the bidding on one of the world's most elusive – and valuable – timepieces. "It is, of course, a treat for us to handle such an object," he enthuses.

Of an estimated 281 pieces produced in the 1518 series, only four are known to have been crafted in stainless steel. Bacs is gearing up to sell the first of them, complete with 'number 1' engraving. "In the field of watch collecting, this is the all-time Olympic multidiscipline winner," he said.

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