Patek Philippe - The Geneva Watch Auction: SIX Geneva Friday, November 10, 2017 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1926
    Movement No: 190'950
    Case No: 412'786
    Model Name: "Extra Quality"
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 19''', 21 jewels
    Dimensions: 50.5mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed, cuvette further engraved 2nd Prix au Concours de l'Observatoire Astronomique de Genève 1927-1928 and 190950
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1926 and its subsequent sale on July 30, 1927. It furthermore states that the Geneva Observatory rating certificate was obtained on July 21, 1927.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Since the beginning of chronometer competitions in 1866 and 1873, for Neuchatel and Geneva respectively, manufactures such as Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin have been very ambitious in creating the best and most accurate movements.

    For the Geneva Astronomical Observatory contest, the manufacturers would prepare watches for their competitive trials, testing and breaking new ground on chronometry.

    The present watch, having won second prize in the Concours de l'Observatoire Astronomique, features a beautifully finished Guillaume Balance. Made of a steel and nickel alloy with anti-magnetic properties, it is unaffected by varying temperatures. It is an invention that enabled its inventor, Charles-Edouard Guillaume, to win the Nobel Prize for physics in 1920.

    According to research, the registers of the Geneva Observatory state that this watch was presented at the 1927 contest where it achieved the second prize with 771 points. It had been prepared and adjusted by the master precision adjuster F. Moudoux.

  • 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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190

A fine yellow gold openface watch with enamel dial, power reserve and Guillaume balance, awarded Second Prize at the Geneva Observatory trials in 1926

1926
50.5mm. Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed, cuvette further engraved 2nd Prix au Concours de l'Observatoire Astronomique de Genève 1927-1928 and 190950

Estimate
CHF12,000 - 18,000 
€10,400-15,500
$12,400-18,600

Sold for CHF23,750

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
+41 22 317 81 89
aghotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: SIX

Geneva Auctions 11 - 12 November 2017