Auction introduction: 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 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-20th 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. 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.