Patek Philippe - The Watch Auction: One Geneva Saturday, May 9, 2015 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1949
    Reference No: 565
    Movement No: 964'598
    Case No: 655'158
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, 12'''120
    Bracelet/Strap: Suede
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel buckle, signed PPC
    Dimensions: 35mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Patek Philippe, Case back further engraved BRIGGS S. CUNNINGHAM, GREEN FARMS, CONN.
    Accessories: Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with Breguet numerals in 1949 and its subsequent sale on November 28th, 1949. Further delivered with a copy of TIME magazine published in April 26th, 1954 where Cunningham is prominently featured
    Provenance: Previously owned by Briggs Cunningham II

  • Provenance

    Previously owned by Briggs Cunningham II

  • Catalogue Essay

    Reference 565 is certainly one of Patek Philippe’s sportier models from the 1940s and early 1950s thanks to its robust two pieces case construction and screw back. Examples with Breguet numerals are amongst the rarest and most popular. The present watch, originally the property of Briggs Cunningham, has never been offered at auction before and must be considered one of the best preserved specimen of this reference. Purchased new by Cunningham in 1949, it is the third publically known stainless steel Patek Philippe wristwatch to have been owned by the famous sportsman. The other two examples a black dialled reference 1463 (bought in 1950) and the perpetual calendar reference 1526, purchased in 1951. Briggs Swift Cunningham II (January 19, 1907 – July 2, 2003) was an American entrepreneur and sportsman, who raced automobiles and yachts. Born into a wealthy family, he became a racing car constructor, driver, and team owner as well as a sports car manufacturer and automobile collector.He skippered the first victorious 12-Metre yacht Columbia in the 1958 America's Cup race, and invented the eponymous device, the Cunningham, to increase the speed of racing sailboats.He was featured on the April 26, 1954 cover of Time magazine, with three of his Cunningham racing cars. The caption reads: Road Racer Briggs Cunningham: Horsepower, Endurance, Sportsmanship. He became an early member of the Road Racing Drivers Club (RRDC), an invitation-only club formed to honor notable road racing drivers.The October 2003 Road & Track magazine article, "Briggs Swift Cunningham—A Life Well Spent", states that "by building and sailing his own ships, and building and racing his own cars, Briggs Cunningham epitomized the definition of the American sportsman." He was inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame in 1993, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1997, and named to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2003.

  • Artist Biography

    Patek Philippe

    Swiss • 1839

    Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.

    Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.

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125

Ref. 565
A very rare and highly attractive stainless steel wristwatch with Breguet numerals, previously owned by Briggs Cunningham II

1949
Stainless steel
35mm. Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed Patek Philippe, Case back further engraved BRIGGS S. CUNNINGHAM, GREEN FARMS, CONN.

Estimate
CHF45,000 - 65,000 

Sold for CHF100,000

Contact Specialist
Nathalie Monbaron
+41 22 317 81 83

The Watch Auction: One

Geneva Auction 10 May 2015 6:30pm