Geneva - A watch commissioned most likely by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the late 1800s will go on sale in Geneva next month, Sotheby's auction house said Monday.

Ludwig II, an eccentric who was removed from power on grounds of insanity, most likely ordered the watch, which is decorated on the back with a depiction of the Virgin Mary standing on a crescent moon, to pay tribute to the Royal Military Order of Saint George.

The watch is estimated to be worth between 27,000 and 44,000 dollars, the auction house said.

The Bavarian ruler was known for building fantasy estate houses and fortresses, including the Neuschwanstein Castle. He was also a patron of composer Richard Wagner.

More expensive timepieces would also be up for bid, such as Patek Phillipe pieces also from the 19th century, including wristwatches expected to fetch up to 350,000 dollars.

A Cartier so-called mystery clock, where the hands appear to be disconnected from the rest of the timepiece, estimated at around 200,000 dollars, would be on the dock as well.(dpa)