There are many legends in the world that tell us about objects that can cause death to their owners. Let's stop at one of them because the time is not the most worrying for all mankind. This is the subject of a unique, yet frightening, watch that brings people only misfortune...
Passion for gathering.
In November 2014, Sheikh Saud bin Mohammed Al Thani of Qatar died unexpectedly in his London residence at the age of only 48. The circumstances of the death looked rather vague, and the official medical report referred to the complications of heart disease. But British newspapers immediately put forward another version: the owner of the most expensive watches in the world died ... because of their curse!
However, the sheik himself had long wanted to get rid of the chronometer and even put it up for auction at Sotheby's in Geneva. The sale of the lot took place just two days after the death of the owner.
Saud bin Mohammed Al Thani, a close relative of the ruling Emir of Qatar, from 1997 to 2005 was Minister of Culture of the country. He was engaged in an ambitious program to create world-class state museums in Qatar. Many of his works are exhibited at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. He has also collected furniture, jewelry, vintage cars, and bicycles. In 2005, the sheik even suffered because of his passion for gathering: he was suspended from office and placed under house arrest while the legality of his acquisitions was being investigated. Ultimately, Qatar's justice system had no claims against the Minister. Unlike the London High Court, which in 2012 froze some of the Sheikh's assets due to unpaid auction house accounts.
Saud bin Mohammed Al Thani's famous pocket watches were purchased 15 years before his death and cost $11 million. The watch had its own name, Henry Graves Supercomplication, the title of "Holy Grail" among the watches and, as many claimed, had the ability to bring misfortune to its owners.
Envy.
The history of their creation dates back to 1930 and concerns the friendship of two richest people of the time - the American car tycoon Ward Packard and his compatriot banker Henry Graves, Jr. Both were avid collectors. It is known that at the auction held in 1936, the painting by Albrecht Durer from the collection of Henry Graves Jr. was sold for 10 thousand dollars - the amount at the time is very impressive.
Graves was born into a family of bankers and increased the multi-millionth condition of their parents, investing in railways and banking.
Collection hobbies of both friends were works of art and expensive watches. Both were interested in the products of the Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe and were jealous of each other's purchases. In 1916, Ward Packard ordered a chronometer from Geneva with 16 complications, such as a map of the sky and the sunrise and sunset figures for the area. The chronometer was the source of the burning envy of Henry Graves, Jr. Friends bet that the new banker's watch will be the best in the world, and in 1925 Henry ordered it from the same Swiss company Patek Philippe.
An unattainable dream - the Holy Grail.
It took three years to design the watches, which were supposed to be the most expensive and beautiful in history. And five more - to create a unique mechanism.
Pocket watches with an 18-carat pink gold case repeat the Westminster dial. Other characteristic features include a perpetual calendar, moon phases, astronomical time, power reserve, and a display of the New York night sky - all the more so in the part that Graves Jr. could see from his city apartment. The watch was named after its first owner, The Henry Graves Supercomplication. It consists of 920 parts, including 110 wheels and 120 levers. Their body is decorated with 70 precious stones. The product weighs 535 grams, has a diameter of 73.2 millimeters and a thickness of 35 millimeters.
With a total of 24 additional devices, the watch has for a long time retained the title of not only the most beautiful but also the most complex in the world - and later yielded the palm of the championship only to the clocks produced using computer technology.
Another name for this masterpiece of watchmaking is "The Holy Grail". That's what watchmakers called a watch that wouldn't need lubrication. However, the ghostly "Holy Grail" always turned out to be an unrealistic dream for them.
The misfortunes of the first master
In 1933, the banker finally managed to take the chronometer from the workshop, paying 15 thousand dollars. But the clock did not bring happiness to its owner.
The time of the Great Depression has come in the world.
to be continued in the next part...