製造商: Patek Philippe 年份: 1919 型號: 11 機芯編號: 194'173 錶殼號碼: 286'196 材料: 18K yellow gold 機芯: Manual, cal. 10'', 17 jewels 錶帶/ 錶鏈: Leather 錶扣: 18K yellow gold period correct pin buckle 尺寸: 37mm Length, 25.5mm Width 簽名: Case, dial and movement signed 配件: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1919 and its subsequent sale on June 12, 1920
圖錄文章
Wristwatches are a relatively modern custom. Until the early 1900s, watches used to be pocket timepieces (even though early exceptions exist). It is only with the advent of WWI that officers began wearing watches on their wrist for true life-or-death reasons: the few additional seconds and the loss of concentration due to the extraction of the watch from the pocket might lead to dire consequences in the trenches.
Once the conflict was over, however, the public realized how much more convenient having a watch on the wrist is even in non-conflictual circumstances, and the trend caught on. The present piece is thus an extremely early example of wristwatch, produced in 1919 and sold on June 12, 1920.
Beyond the historical interest, it is undeniable that the piece is stunning: the gilded dial with enameled Breguet numerals - a configuration fully confirmed by the extract - is simply breathtaking, wonderfully executed and in surprisingly good condition for a timepiece more than a century old. Additional details such as the oval railway divisions, curved Patek Philippe & Co. signature and caseback signed and bearing the case number to the outside - all excellently preserved - add to the already enormous charme and appeal of this fascinating timepeice.
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.
