64
Patek Philippe
Ref. 982/116J-001
Rare Handcrafts Pocket Watch “Swan”, Pièce Unique
A unique and impressive yellow gold open-faced pocket watch with guilloché enamel dial, enameled scene of two swans set with pavé diamonds, diamond-set indexes, power reserve, certificate of origin, presentation boxes, with fitted gold presentation stand
Full-Cataloguing
• Unique pocket watch dating to 2010 Patek Philippe Rare Handcraft collection
• Exquisite solid gold fitted presentation stand highlighting the importance of the present watch
• Fresh-to-market, full-set
Fresh to the auction market, the present unique reference 982/116J-001 features a two-sided pocket watch with an exquisite sold gold fitted stand. The dial is blue guilloché enamel with diamond-set indexes, while the solid outer caseback features two swans floating in a cloisonné enamel pond, rendered in white and yellow gold damascene engraving with pavé diamond necks. The bow is similarly engraved to be in the shape of a swan’s neck, while the crown is set with a single cabochon sapphire. It is an utter celebration of diverse decorating techniques featuring the grace and elegance of the swan.
Patek Philippe often features swans in their Rare Handcraft masterpieces, as swans are powerful symbols of grace, beauty, romantic devotion, and transformation. In Greek mythology, swans were sacred to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and they are known to mate for life. The term “rare bird”, in fact, comes from a Roman poet referring to a black swan. The elegant curve of their necks and elegant glide across water’s surface makes them a popular subject across multiple artistic mediums. Rendered splendidly in cloisonné enamel, grisaille, and delicate pavé diamond setting, the colors are rich and vibrant, while the guilloché enamel of the time-telling side of the pocket watch evokes the textures and depths of a swirling pond.
As with all Patek Philippe's enamel masterpieces, the present watch was made as a single piece only and only allocated upon special request. It comes as no doubt that its owner was a faithful and important client of the brand. It comes complete with an impressive solid gold presentation stand echoing the wing of a swan, and its original certificate of origin dating to 2010.
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.