38
Patek Philippe
Minute Repeating, Perpetual Calendar, Chronograph
A superb and exceptionally complicated yellow gold perpetual calendar openface pocket watch with minute repeater, moonphases, single button chronograph, enamel dial, Breguet numerals, original Certificate and box
Full-Cataloguing
The technical innovation and design of the pocket watch served as the foundation for today’s high quality wristwatches. Without the complications first created for pocket watches, some of today’s most iconic complicated wristwatches could not have come to fruition, such as Patek Philippe’s legendary collection of wrist complications. Even the hallowed brand, however, had to endure nearly a century of R&D before launching a serially produced wristwatch with the same complications as this pocket timepiece - which happened in 2011 with ref. 5208.
Made in the earliest years of the past century (and sold in 1915 - just at the dawn of WWI), the present pocket watch is an impressive representation of the skill and master craftsmanship associated with Patek Philippe’s mechanical innovation and workmanship since its earliest days.
While there is no undisputed consensus in regard to the definition of a “grande complication”, many collectors agree such a watch should combine (at least) a chronograph complication, a calendar complication and a chiming complication. The present perpetual calendar chronograph with moon phases and minute repeater fully satisfies the requirements.
Notwithstanding its complexity, the dial is elegantly and symmetrically laid out with four subdials at 12 (moonphases), 3 (month), 6 (date + running seconds) and 9 (day). The chimes are crisp, clear and delightfully pleasing to the ear as one can expect from the Master of chiming complications. The chronograph is operated through a single button coaxial with the crown, increasing the balance of the case .
Preserved in outstanding condition with an absolutely flawless enamel dial, its complexity certainly contributed to lay the groundwork on which was built Patek Philippe’s current reputation as one of the undisputed champions of high-end complicated watchmaking.
Patek Philippe
Swiss | 1839Since 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.