A historic Patek Philippe watch once owned by baseball icon Joe DiMaggio is now available for purchase, listed by retailer Wind Vintage for $1,200,000. The retailer describes the timepiece as "arguably the greatest known Patek Philippe tied to any professional athlete and certainly any baseball player." Maze-like, the round-faced watch is a Patek Philippe chronograph reference 130 in yellow gold with Breguet numerals. It was originally produced in 1947 and sold on December 12, 1948. According to reports, the watch was a gift from the New York Yankees owners to celebrate DiMaggio's third American League MVP award and the team's World Series victory that year.
The retailer estimates that only 180 examples of this watch model were produced, with approximately 55 having been resold over time. Wind Vintage further asserts that this particular watch is "certainly one of the best Patek Philippe reference 130 examples known and among the most important Patek Philippe wristwatches of all time."
The Yankees center fielder reportedly wore the watch throughout his life, including during his high-profile marriage to Marilyn Monroe, and kept it until his death in 1999. This is not the first time the timepiece has been offered for sale. In 2006, DiMaggio's estate auctioned the watch, which sold for a hammer price of $97,750, exceeding its $15,000 estimate sixfold. The proceeds from that sale were donated to the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Foundation.
In 2017, the watch was sold again at Christie's for $281,250, which is less than a quarter of its current asking price. The watch has had only two owners since the baseball icon.