107
Golay Fils & Stahl
"Minute Repeating with Sunrise, Sunset and Equation of Time made for the Maharaja of Patiala"
A stunning yellow gold gold openface minute repeating pocket watch with sunrise, sunset, equation of time, moon phases and perpetual calendar, made for the Maharaja of Patiala
Estimate
CHF100,000–200,000
€109,000–217,000
$125,000–251,000
Live 9 May, 2 PM Switzerland Time
Manufacturer
Golay Fils & Stahl
Year
Circa 1910
Movement No
28'432
Case No
28'432
Model Name
"Minute Repeating with Sunrise, Sunset and Equation of Time made for the Maharaja of Patiala"
Material
18k yellow gold
Calibre
Manual, 31 jewels
Dimensions
52mm diameter
Signed
Case, dial and movement signed
Full-Cataloguing
Good to Know:
- Minute repeating, perpetual calendar with moonphases, equation of time and time of sunset/sunrise
- Made for the Maharaja of Patiala
- Guillaume balance and wolf teeth winding
Golay Fils & Stahl was founded in 1837 in Geneva by Auguste Golay Leresche and sold at the turn of the century to Mr. Stahl, becoming Golay Fils & Stahl. The company still exists today but as a jeweller and no longer watchmaker.
The present timepiece from circa 1910 made for the Maharaja of Patiala, does not only impress thanks to its minute repeating perpetual calendar mechanism but also to its uber rare equation of time with sunset and sunrise features.
The equation of time (here indicated via a central hand with an engraved sun at its tip) is a rare complication that displays the difference between mean solar time – our civil time based on a conventional twenty-four-hour period – and true solar time, which varies with the earth’s irregular orbit round the sun.
The sunrise/sunset function can only be set up for one particular latitude: 30.23 North which passes through Patiala in the Punjab of Northern India.
The ébauche was probably made before the 1914-18 war by Leon Aubert of Brassus, the calendar mechanism by Paul-August Golay of the Vallée de Joux, with the sunrise and sunset mechanism by Jean Piguet of Brassus. These makers also worked on the Graves super complication Patek Philippe watch.
The movement also features a Guillaume balance and wolf teeth winding demonstrating the high quality of the movement.
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh (1891–1938) was the ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Patiala from 1900 to 1938, known for his immense wealth, extravagant lifestyle, and passion for cricket. He famously owned 44 Rolls-Royces, had 350 concubines, and the famous Patiala Necklace. He popularised the "Patiala peg" and was a key patron of Indian sports.
- Minute repeating, perpetual calendar with moonphases, equation of time and time of sunset/sunrise
- Made for the Maharaja of Patiala
- Guillaume balance and wolf teeth winding
Golay Fils & Stahl was founded in 1837 in Geneva by Auguste Golay Leresche and sold at the turn of the century to Mr. Stahl, becoming Golay Fils & Stahl. The company still exists today but as a jeweller and no longer watchmaker.
The present timepiece from circa 1910 made for the Maharaja of Patiala, does not only impress thanks to its minute repeating perpetual calendar mechanism but also to its uber rare equation of time with sunset and sunrise features.
The equation of time (here indicated via a central hand with an engraved sun at its tip) is a rare complication that displays the difference between mean solar time – our civil time based on a conventional twenty-four-hour period – and true solar time, which varies with the earth’s irregular orbit round the sun.
The sunrise/sunset function can only be set up for one particular latitude: 30.23 North which passes through Patiala in the Punjab of Northern India.
The ébauche was probably made before the 1914-18 war by Leon Aubert of Brassus, the calendar mechanism by Paul-August Golay of the Vallée de Joux, with the sunrise and sunset mechanism by Jean Piguet of Brassus. These makers also worked on the Graves super complication Patek Philippe watch.
The movement also features a Guillaume balance and wolf teeth winding demonstrating the high quality of the movement.
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh (1891–1938) was the ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Patiala from 1900 to 1938, known for his immense wealth, extravagant lifestyle, and passion for cricket. He famously owned 44 Rolls-Royces, had 350 concubines, and the famous Patiala Necklace. He popularised the "Patiala peg" and was a key patron of Indian sports.