The Yankees great kept the gold chronograph for half a century. Its third owner is now selling it, and its paper trail is a lesson in what makes a vintage watch.
The 18KT yellow gold Patek Philippe ref. 130 chronograph that Joe DiMaggio bought on 12 December 1948 is being offered by the Florida dealer Wind Vintage, Robb Report reported on 27 October 2026, with an asking price of $1.2 million. The watch was made in 1947 and last sold at Christie's New York in December 2017.
The watch
According to Wind Vintage, the watch is a ref. 130 chronograph in 18KT yellow gold, 33 mm across, with a silvered dial, Breguet numerals, a tachymeter scale and the manual-wind calibre 13-130. A Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirms the date of sale as 12 December 1948, and the dealer says the Breguet numerals are recorded in the extract notes. The case was made by the Geneva casemaker Emile Vichet, who also cased the early ref. 1518 and ref. 2499 perpetual calendar chronographs. Wind Vintage estimates that about 180 ref. 130s were made in yellow gold with Breguet numerals, and that around 55 have surfaced.
Three owners in 78 years
DiMaggio, who played his whole 13-season career for the New York Yankees, owned the watch until his death in 1999. It was sold at the Joe DiMaggio auction at Hunt Auctions on 22 May 2006, and was then shown at Patek Philippe's Art of Watches Grand Exhibition in New York in 2017. That December it was lot 5 at Christie's New York, in An Evening of Exceptional Watches on 7 December 2017, where it sold for USD 281,250 including buyer's premium, Christie's records show. The buyer then is the seller now, Eric Wind told Robb Report.
Why the ref. 130 matters
The ref. 130 was Patek Philippe's first wristwatch chronograph and stayed in production for decades, Eric Wind told Robb Report, adding that the original ref. 1518, the first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch, was a modified 130. That lineage, and the clean proportions of a slim 33 mm case, are why the model has a long following among collectors of vintage Patek.
Papers, dials and provenance
Few watches have a story as well documented as this one, but the same evidence helps any vintage Patek. An Extract from the Archives confirms when a watch was made and sold and how it left the factory, including the dial. An original, unrestored dial is usually worth more than a refinished one, and a case that has kept its sharp edges counts in its favour. Receipts, boxes and auction records all add to the story. Our Patek Philippe guide explains the references, and you can browse our Patek Philippe watches. If you own one and are thinking of selling, see how to sell your Patek Philippe with us. Every watch is different: send us a few photos and we will tell you what yours is worth, free and with no obligation.
More from Mozeris News
Looking to buy or sell? Get in touch
We buy and sell antique and vintage jewellery, watches, silver and collectables, with free valuations and free insured collection.
About Mozeris Fine Antiques
Mozeris Fine Antiques is a dealer in fine jewellery, watches and silver, with offices in Mayfair, London, and Braintree, Essex. We buy and sell, and offer free valuations. Visits are by appointment.
- Lot 5: Patek Philippe ref. 130 chronograph belonging to Joe DiMaggio, at Christie's (7 Dec 2017)
- View the sale at Christie's: An Evening of Exceptional Watches, New York, 7 December 2017
- Robb Report: Joe DiMaggio's Patek Philippe can now be yours for $1.2 million (27 Oct 2026)
- Wind Vintage: Joe DiMaggio's Patek Philippe reference 130 chronograph
Facts as published by Wind Vintage, Robb Report and Christie's. The asking price is the dealer's, not a sale. Mozeris Fine Antiques is not connected with Patek Philippe, Wind Vintage, Christie's or anyone named. No photograph is used because no licensed image was available.
