$1.2 Million for a Piece of History: Joe DiMaggio’s Famous Patek Philippe Hits the Market

A piece of legendary baseball history could soon belong to any collector — provided they are willing to pay $1.2 million.

The famous Patek Philippe watch once owned by New York Yankees star Joe DiMaggio has been put up for sale by American dealer Wind Vintage. The company describes it as “possibly the greatest known Patek Philippe watch associated with a professional athlete” and, without a doubt, “the greatest watch ever owned by a baseball player.”

The timepiece is a Patek Philippe Reference 130 chronograph featuring a yellow-gold case and a dial with Breguet-style numerals.

The watch was manufactured in 1947 and, on December 12, 1948, was reportedly presented to DiMaggio by the owners of the New York Yankees in honor of his third American League MVP award and the team’s World Series victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The Reference 130 was produced in extremely limited numbers. It is believed that only around 180 examples were ever made, with approximately 55 appearing on the secondary market over the years.

The current seller considers DiMaggio’s watch one of the finest surviving examples of the Reference 130 and describes it as one of the most historically significant Patek Philippe wristwatches ever made.

Collectors have plenty of reason to agree. Enthusiasts have already called the watch “a truly historic example,” pointing out that it is the combination of the timepiece itself and its remarkable provenance that makes it one of the top 25–50 lots of its kind in the world.

For DiMaggio, the watch was far more than an expensive accessory. The legendary center fielder wore it throughout his life, including during his highly publicized marriage to Marilyn Monroe. The watch remained in his possession until his death in 1999.

Following the baseball star’s death, the timepiece has already appeared at auction twice.

In 2006, DiMaggio’s heirs sold the watch at a Hunt Auctions sale for $97,750 — more than six times its original estimate of $15,000. The proceeds went to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation.

The watch resurfaced at Christie’s in 2017, where it sold for $281,250 — less than a quarter of its current asking price.

Now, the historic Patek Philippe is once again looking for a new owner. This time, however, the privilege of wearing a piece of baseball and Hollywood history on your wrist will cost $1.2 million.