- Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
  Year: 1954
  Reference No: 565
  Movement No: 704'111
  Case No: 663'177
  Material: Stainless steel
  Calibre: Manual, cal. 27SC, 18 jewels
  Bracelet/Strap: Leather
  Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle
  Dimensions: 34.5mm Diameter
  Signed: Case, dial and movement signed, dial further signed Asprey
  Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe fitted box, Extract from the Archives confirming the production of the present watch with Breguet numerals and luminous dots and its subsequent sale on August 23, 1955. Further accompanied by a leather Patek Philippe strap.
- Catalogue Essay
  Fresh to the market and incredibly well-preserved, the present timepiece is only the second known stainless steel reference 565 retailed by Asprey to come to the market.
  
  In fact the present example bears case number 663’177 only one number apart (663’178) from the example sold for CHF 300,000 at the Phillips “Double Signed” auction in Geneva on Nov 9, 2019.
  Other than the watch’s condition and rare Asprey signature other worthy elements add an element of desirability to the watch such as the Breguet numerals and luminous dots – as confirmed by the Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives.
  
  The reference 565 is one of the most classic gentleman wristwatches of the 20th century. Released in 1938, the model featured innovative and enduring qualities that today make it a collector’s favorite. These including the two piece Taubert case with screw down back, an inner soft iron cover to protect the movement from the adverse effects of magnetic fields, and a more generous case, compared to the smaller reference 96, which was first released in 1932.
  
  The brand continued to manufacture the model until 1952, and in an era when yellow gold timepieces were de rigueur, most examples were made in yellow gold, with fewer examples in pink gold and rarely in stainless steel. Designed for a public with a growing interest in outdoor activities, the reference 565 was waterproof with its screw-down caseback.
  
  Offered with subsidiary seconds or less frequently, with center seconds, over the course of time the caliber was upgraded. First series examples of the reference housed the caliber 12’’’120, while a Victorin Piguet indirect center seconds movement 12-120 SC was introduced in 1939, in 1950 a second series was released with the caliber 12’’’400, as well as the new caliber 27 SC (center seconds).
  
  Rare and in impressive condition the present reference 565 retailed by Asprey is an exceptionally rare discovery.
- Artist Biography
  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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