Patek Philippe - STYLED. Timeless Watches & How to Wear Them New York Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1946
    Reference No: 1463
    Movement No: 863’843
    Case No: 640’551
    Model Name: "Tasti Tondi"
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 13’’’, 23 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Patek Philippe buckle
    Dimensions: 35mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1946 and its subsequent sale on 4 February 1947.
    Literature: For another example of a reference 1463 in stainless steel with applied elongated baton indexes and Arabic numerals, please see John Goldberger’s Patek Philippe Steel Watches, pp. 280-281.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Within the vintage collecting community, there are trophy timepieces considered to be the pinnacle of any collection, and the Patek Philippe reference 1463 chronograph is worthy of this designation. In stainless steel, it would be the crown jewel. Released in 1941 and produced for the next 25 years, the model was the first and only waterproof chronograph wristwatch produced by Patek Philippe (aside from the ultra rare references 1536 and 3651) before the 1990s. Despite the long production run in all metals, it is believed that only 750 total examples were produced, with the vast majority in yellow gold and less than 10% in stainless steel.

    One can say that the reference 1463 was Patek Philippe’s first “sports utility” wristwatch – a chronograph combining luxury with capabilities for the outdoors. It comes as little surprise that it became the preferred watch for the rising elite, including Briggs Cunningham - an American entrepreneur and sportsman, who raced automobiles and yachts. Featured on the cover of Time Magazine in April 1954 and a member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame and America’s Cup Hall of Fame, he owned a stainless steel reference 1463 with black dial.

    The watch was especially robust and was especially suitable for industrial use in scientific and medical environments due to a second inner case which shielded the movement against magnetism. Each featured a ten-sided screw back case and playful rounded chronograph-pushers, known as "Tasti Tondi" in Italian. Notably, the cases of the reference 1463 in steel were manufactured by famed case maker Taubert & Fils, as seen in the F.B. (for François Borgel, Taubert’s predecessor company name) stamp on the inside caseback.

    The present example features a sublime, two-tone silvered dial with outer polished chapter ring and tachymeter, and inner silvered matte dial with elongated white gold baton indexes and Arabic numerals. Of the 67 known examples of the reference 1463 in steel, only 8 are known to have this dial variation, making it extremely rare and highly sought after. The joy of collecting this particular reference are the various dial iterations implemented throughout the twenty year production period and the rarer dial, the more desirable the watch. Preserved in exceptional condition for the better part of a century, this stunning reference 1463 is sure to delight the distinguished collector.

  • 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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Ο14

Ref. 1463
An extremely rare and highly attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with two-tone silvered dial with outer tachymeter scale

1946
35mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.

Estimate
$300,000 - 500,000 
CHF299,000-498,000
€261,000-434,000
HK$2,350,000-3,920,000

Sold for $495,000

Contact Specialist
Paul Boutros
Head of Watches, Americas
+1 212 940 1293
pboutros@phillips.com

STYLED. Timeless Watches & How to Wear Them

New York Auction 5 December 2018