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Patek Philippe

Ref. 699

An extremely rare and fine yellow gold open face minute repeating perpetual calendar watch with moonphase

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Even though the sale of wristwatches surpassed pocketwatches in the 1930s, Patek Philippe continued expressing its technical knowhow in pocketwatches, which it made in extremely low numbers. This reference 699 is a perfect example of Patek Philippe demonstrating its prowess as a watchmaker, with its almost Bauhaus design, and a superbly powerful three-piece case with brushed flanks. The thin, almost non-existent bezel provides for a full opening onto the dial for a most pleasant effect.

Only six reference 699 models are known to date, and the present lot has the particularity of not only being fresh to the market appearing in an auction room for the first time, but also, it is the only one known to solely feature lapidated indexes on the dial. All other reference 699 models feature a mix of Roman numerals and baton hour markers. Another notable feature of the present watch is the rectangular shaped pendant, whereas reference 699 is found more with the bell-shaped pendant. With its combination of Patek Philippe’s most prestigious “grande” complications – the perpetual calendar and minute repeater – this incredibly rare timepiece is a wonderful example for collectors of Patek Philippe watches.

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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