A rare, WWII-era Patek Philippe sold for the equivalent of $5.7 million, the highest price paid for a yellow-gold wristwatch at auction. The 18-karat gold chronograph, from 1944, which has a calendar that adjusts for leap years and displays the phases of the moon, reached 6.26 million francs at Christie's in Geneva.

Geneva-based auctioneer Antiquorum sold a Patek Philippe wristwatch in 2002 for 6.6 million francs, or about $4.03 million. The record price depends on currency fluctuations.