Patek Philippe - The Watch Auction: One Geneva Saturday, May 9, 2015 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1939
    Reference No: 1415
    Movement No: 176'120
    Case No: 618'818
    Model Name: Worldtime
    Material: 18k yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, 12'''
    Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile
    Clasp/Buckle: 18k yellow gold buckle, signed PPC
    Dimensions: 31mm. Diameter
    Signed: case, dial and movement signed, case back further engraved with the name Robert Stack
    Accessories: Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with engraving to the case back in 1939 and its subsequent sale on October 8th, 1940
    Literature: Examples of reference 1415 are illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 243 - 247.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The present reference 1415 is one of the historically most significant examples of this model. In fact, it appears to be the second ever made example of this reference, completed in 1939, the year the reference was launched.

    This reference 1415 differs through a vast number of elements from the later version: the movement is a 12”’ pocket watch movement with camwheel regulation, wolf tooth winding and gold wheel train. The bezel, with red enamel hour markers, features only 30 cities whereas later generations have either 39 or 41. The silvered dial has roman and baton numerals all in black enamel versus gold applied markers.


    When examining this watch up close it becomes evident that in 1939 Patek Philippe’s world time wristwatch production was still in its infancy and it is fair to say that these watches served as forerunners and prototypes for the later production. In the late 1930s world time wristwatches must have been the ultimate novelty and it should not come as a surprise that a star like Robert Stack has been one of the fortunate first owners of such a watch.

    Robert Stack (born Charles Langford Modini Stack, January 13, 1919 – May 14, 2003) was a multilingual American actor and television host. In addition to acting in more than 40 feature films, he starred in the 1959–63 television series The Untouchables, for which he won the 1960 Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series, and later hosted Unsolved Mysteries from 1987 until 2002. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film Written on the Wind in 1956.

  • 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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Σ163

Ref. 1415
A very rare and early yellow gold world-time wristwatch, formerly the property of Robert Stack

1939
18k yellow gold
31mm. Diameter
case, dial and movement signed, case back further engraved with the name Robert Stack

Estimate
CHF60,000 - 90,000 

Sold for CHF191,000

Contact Specialist
Nathalie Monbaron
+41 22 317 81 83

The Watch Auction: One

Geneva Auction 10 May 2015 6:30pm