Patek Philippe - Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR Geneva Friday, November 11, 2016 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1937
    Movement No: 870'005
    Case No: 504'119 2
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 17''', 18 jewels
    Dimensions: 47mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives confirming manufacture in 1937 and subsequent sale on November 6, 1937

  • Catalogue Essay

    Produced in the late 1930s, the present pocket watch impresses with the rarity of its stainless steel case and the beauty of its three-tone dial. Since its earliest days through the 1970s, the overwhelming majority of Patek Philippe’s watches were produced in gold or platinum, and only very few were cased in stainless steel. Housed in a large 47mm case, this watch is fitted with an unusual and rare dial with art deco motif. The geometric design of the multiple-tone dial, the “chemin de fer” railway minute track, and the delightful font of the numerals capture the architectural, modern style that defined the art deco movement of the late 1920s through 1940s. The long and refined blued-steel hands provide the finishing touch for this timeless and elegant watch that looks as stylish and modern today as it did so many decades ago.

  • 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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A very fine and rare stainless steel open face pocket watch with three-tone dial

1937
47mm. Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF3,000 - 5,000 
€2,800-4,600
$3,100-5,200

Sold for CHF8,750

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
+41 22 317 81 89

Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR

Geneva Auctions 12 – 13 November 2016