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181

Patek Philippe

Ref. 600

An exceptional and unique yellow gold keyless lever open-face minute repeating perpetual calendar watch with moonphases, black dial and Glucydur balance

18k yellow gold
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It is not uncommon that Patek Philippe’s most complicated and valuable movements were not immediately cased and sold but sometimes remained with the manufacturer for years. This is the case here as it wasn’t until 1935 that this perpetual calendar minute repeating movement was first sold, having been made 10 years earlier.
It is even more fascinating that already 3 years later the watch returned to Patek Philippe and was upgraded with a number of new features: a new reference 600 case in yellow gold, together with a state-of-the-art black dial, very much en vogue in the late 1930s. But also the movement was modernised, receiving a Glucydur balance, invented only a few years earlier. The advantage of this balance lies in the alloy composed of beryllium and copper providing greatest stability for a wider spectrum of temperatures. The screw-less design enjoys furthermore greater aerodynamic efficiency.
Few complicated Patek Philippe pocket watches are known from the pre-war era and the present example, preserved in excellent and all original condition, is an extraordinary collector’s watch.

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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