939
Patek Philippe
Minute repeater
A rare and well-preserved pink gold minute repeating hunter-cased pocket watch with small seconds and enamel dial
Full-Cataloguing
- In excellent condition with nice caseband
- Crisp and delightful chime
- Beautiful, customized engravings on a sleek hunter-bassine style case
Before wristwatches became the norm of watch collection in the early 20th century, pockets watches had been the symbol of prestige, in which highly sought after complications like tourbillons and repeaters could be traced back to decades or even centuries. In the 19th century, only a handful of skilled watchmakers had the ability to incorporate such complex complications into pocket watches despite the bigger working space in pocket watches. The present example was manufactured by Patek Philippe in 1891, when at that time they had already been renowned for making remarkable repeater movements.
This pocket watch has a beautiful and crisp chime, as expected from the impeccable craftsmanship of Patek Philippe, the sound when the gong is struck creates a delightful sound. What is impressive is that the whole construct is fitted in a small bassine style case, featuring a thin bezel and convex curved edges, with a 17 ligne lever escapement movement finished with Côtes de Genève on the bridges. The case is also a work of art, featuring a refined and well-made hunter case and beautifully engraved hinged lid and cuvette. With a basic timekeeping function and minute repeating mechanism, this pocket watch gives a sense of subtleness and elegance, and it is only for the most delicate collector who appreciates simplicity and artistry.
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.