Patek Philippe - Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR Geneva Friday, November 11, 2016 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1957
    Reference No: 699-2
    Movement No: 198'375
    Case No: 699'654
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 17''', 29 jewels
    Dimensions: 50mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the movement of the present watch in 1930. It was completed in 1955, encased in 1957 and sold on 6 May 1960. Furthermore delivered with Patek Philippe original fitted red presentation box.

  • Catalogue Essay

    This reference 699-2 is a perfect example of Patek Philippe demonstrating its prowess as a watchmaker, with its almost Bauhaus design, and a superbly powerful three-piece case with brushed flanks. The thin, almost non-existent bezel provides for a full opening onto the dial for a most pleasant effect. The perpetual calendar indication is displayed in quite a unique way and a tribute to the Roaring Twenties where this type of linear calendar display first appeared. This linear configuration is also known as the Americaine, or American, due to the fact that the month is indicated first followed by the date and the day. A moonphase display at 6 o’clock adds a dash of panache to a perfectly balanced dial layout.
    The present lot is unusual in that 30 years separate the production of the movement and its subsequent casing and sale in 1960 - an epoch where wristwatches had greatly surpassed pocket watches in terms of production and everyday use. Patek Philippe continued expressing its technical savoir faire in pocket watches, which it made in extremely low numbers. The trigger, unusually placed on the right hand side of the case, activates the repeating mechanism and sets off the seraphic chimes Patek Philippe’s minute repeaters are known for. Only a handful of reference 699-2 examples have ever shown up at auction, making this is a rare opportunity for the connoisseur.

  • 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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Ref. 699-2
An extremely rare and fine yellow gold open face minute repeating "straight line" perpetual calendar watch with moon phase

1957
50mm. Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF60,000 - 90,000 
€55,100-82,600
$61,800-92,800

Sold for CHF81,250

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
+41 22 317 81 89

Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR

Geneva Auctions 12 – 13 November 2016