Historical artifacts headline the Kingly Treasures Auction at León Gallery

Rare Patek Philippe Gifted to Gil Puyat, Along with Rizaliana and Quezon Memorabilia, Set for Auction

A rare Patek Philippe 3671/1 Gondolo timepiece, which was presented to Senate President Gil J. Puyat, is set to go under the hammer at León Gallery’s 2025 Kingly Treasures Auction.

This extraordinary piece of Philippine historical artifacts was given as a gift in 1967 by then-President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos. The watch features a refined 18-karat white gold case with a textured dial, baton hands, and a Caliber 177 manual-winding movement.

Preserved in impeccably good condition, the timepiece bears a crucial personal inscription written on the case back: “To Gil, with our esteem, Ferdinand and Imelda 9-1-67.”

The Gil Puyat Patek Philippe: A Glimpse into 1967 Politics

Senator Gil Puyat had a distinguished life as both a politician and an industrialist. He was elected senator in the 1951 midterm elections and served as the Senate President from 1967 until the Senate’s closure following the declaration of Martial Law in 1972.

León Gallery describes the timing of the presentation in 1967—a pivotal year in Philippine political history—as a moment where “cooperation and influence [were] being negotiated beneath the veil of lavish gifts.” León Gallery Director Jaime Ponce de Leon calls the timepiece “an extraordinary heirloom” in its catalog, alluding to its profound significance.

The Precious Rizaliana Artifacts

The auction features several items of immense national interest, including key Rizaliana artifacts.

A rare poetry book, which Jose Rizal gifted to Leonor Rivera, is also up for auction. Per León Gallery, it is the only surviving love token of Rizal for Rivera.

León Gallery history consultant Lisa Guerrero-Nakpil noted that “The Album Poético fostered a private, intellectual connection between them, with her frequently consulting its well-thumbed pages for comfort and strength that helped maintain their relationship through years of separation.”

Other crucial Rizaliana set to be auctioned includes the first editions of Rizal’s literary masterpieces, Noli me Tangere (1887) and El Filibusterismo (1891). According to Nakpil, these novels showcase the national hero’s political eloquence and helped spark the chain of events that ultimately led to his martyrdom at Bagumbayan in December 1896.

The auction will also feature a photograph of Rizal taken by renowned French-Spanish photographer Edgardo Debas, which was intended to be the frontispiece for El Filibusterismo.

The Manuel L. Quezon Private Reserve Collection

The President Manuel L. Quezon Private Reserve Collection offers a look into the life, political battles, and personal intricacies of the man.

The collection includes a deeply personal letter penned on Jan. 25, 1937, and sent to his wife, Aurora. The letter is a tell-all about his love affairs, showing him speaking out on his own behalf regarding various charges of illicit affairs made against him.

Written in the third year of the Commonwealth Republic, this period was also productive for Quezon, who signed into law the creation of a national language based on Tagalog. That same year, he guided the country in giving women the right to vote, saw the establishment of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, and welcomed Jews fleeing the Nazi invasion of Europe.

Collecting rare artifacts from Philippine history, León Gallery’s The Kingly Treasures Auction 2025 is set to take place on December 6.

 

 

A rare Patek Philippe watch gifted to Senate President Gil J. Puyat by Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, alongside crucial Rizaliana and President Manuel L. Quezon memorabilia, is set to go under the hammer at León Gallery’s 2025 Kingly Treasures.

 

 

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