Patek Philippe - The Watch Auction: One Geneva Saturday, May 9, 2015 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1927
    Reference No: 130
    Movement No: 198'073
    Case No: 504'146
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, 13'''
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Original stainless steel buckle, signed PPC
    Dimensions: 35mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Extract from the Archives confirming production of the movement of the present watch in 1927 and its subsequent sale with stainless steel case and silvered dial featuring black enamelled hour markers and pulsation scale on 24 March 1937.
    Literature: Published in Patek Philippe Stainless Steel Wacthes, pages 212-215, by John Goldberger

    The sister of the present watch, No. 504'147 is published in Patek Philippe Musuem, Patek Philippe Watches - Volume II, page 264

  • Catalogue Essay

    Single-button chronographs are amongst the rarest gems within the family of complicated Patek Philippe wristwatches - itself already one of the most exclusive clubs a watch may belong to. These ultra-rare chronographs, fitted with the celebrated 13’’’ ébauche supplied by Victorin-Piguet of Le Sentier, were always cased in gold, with two exceptions finished in stainless steel: case numbers 504’146, the present watch, and 504’147, its identical sister. The latter is now part of the Patek Philippe Museum’s collection and on permanent exhibit in the salon dedicated to complicated wristwatches; furthermore, it is also prominently featured on the Museum’s own website (www.patekmuseum.com - The Collection – Patek Philippe Collection – Complex Wristwatches (1925-1989 – the Doctor’s Wristwatch). Consequently, the present example is the only known steel single–button chronograph by Patek Philippe in private hands.Patek Philippe finished its single-button chronographs first in the well known officer–style and cushion–shaped cases and later on in the better known reference 130 style. These were, like later references 130, measuring 33mm in gold and a mere half a millimetre more for the steel version. The present watch, however, boasts a much larger and substantial case with a diameter of over 35mm.The dial design of these two watches cannot be described differently than with words like unique and spectacular: A matte silvered dial with vertically positioned subsidiary dials, the typical late 1930’s sector- (or aviator) design, elegant arabic numerals in black enamel and outer pulsation scale – a combination unique to these two watches. Both watches were sold and delivered on the very same day, March 24, 1937, to Walser, Wald & Cia, Patek Philippe’s agent in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the time. Unconfirmed but reliable sources say that these two watches were made for two brothers, both medical doctors.Since its first public appearance at auction over 20 years ago, the watch has seen only two ownerships – in both cases two extraordinary connoisseurs and collectors with deep knowledge and passion for the finest and rarest. Thankfully, none of them have restored it, resulting today that it is preserved in a superbly honest and original condition. In fact, it appears that the stainless steel buckle mounted is still the very same and original one from 1937.It should not come as a surprise that this watch has been chosen by John Goldberger, legendary author and one of of the world’s most renowned scholars, for his book Patek Philippe Steel Watches (pp. 212 – 215), broadly accepted as the bible for stainless steel watches by Patek Philippe. Amongst the handful watches to which Goldberger dedicated 4 full pages, the present single-button chronograph is one of them, revealing its importance and uniqueness for collectors.

  • 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.

    View More Works

123

Ref. 130
An extremely rare and important oversized stainless steel single button chronograph wristwatch with vertical registers, sector dial and pulsometer-scale

1927
35mm. Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF1,000,000 - 2,000,000 

Sold for CHF4,645,000

Contact Specialist
Nathalie Monbaron
+41 22 317 81 83

The Watch Auction: One

Geneva Auction 10 May 2015 6:30pm