Patek Philippe - The Geneva Watch Auction: EIGHT Geneva Saturday, November 10, 2018 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1966
    Reference No: 844
    Movement No: 861'087
    Case No: 317'095
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 17''', 29 jewels
    Dimensions: 51mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificat d'Identite et Garantie d'Origine dated August 30, 1978, copy of service invoice dated October 2003, copy of Insurance Evaluation, product literature, red document holder and presentation box. Furthermore delivered with Patek Philipp Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1966 and its subsequent sale on August 23, 1974

  • Catalogue Essay

    Reference 844 in one of the cleanest and most elegant Patek Philippe pocket watch designs of the past century. It was introduced in 1965 and indeed the design is typical of that period, featuring an extremely clean dial, devoid of any graphics save for the watchmaker’s signature and minimal division. The key feature of the piece, the linear calendar displaying the day, date and month on a central window at 12 o’clock, further amplifies the overall feeling of purity and balance of the watch. The case as well is a perfect example of the spirit of that era, featuring a complex case construction - obvious in the triple stepped bezel and caseback - defined by the contrast of the satin and mirror finish and by its symmetry. Such a masterpiece of design was in this instance produced by Antoine Gerlach, a Geneva-based case maker identified by the number four in a key stamped to the inside of the caseback. Interestingly, at the beginning of the production, the present model had a different reference number: 843. Reference 844 was associated with its identical, but lager 56mm twin. Very soon however, and as demonstrated by this 1966 example, reference 844 was employed for both sizes.
    The model was still available on special request in 2000, which means production ran for more than forty years, a testament to the timeless design of the watch. Notwithstanding such a long timespan, the overall output was extremely restricted, with a total production estimated at about 80 pieces in yellow and white gold. The present fresh-to-the-market specimen is the 18th yellow gold example to appear at public auction.

  • 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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Ref. 844
A rare and extremely fine yellow gold open face linear perpetual calendar minute repeating watch with moonphase, original certificate and box

1966
51mm Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF120,000 - 180,000 
€106,000-158,000
$123,000-184,000

Sold for CHF156,250

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

The Geneva Watch Auction: EIGHT

Geneva Auction 10-11 November 2018