Patek Philippe - The Geneva Watch Auction: SIX Geneva Friday, November 10, 2017 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1942
    Reference No: 570
    Movement No: 922'725
    Case No: 507'382
    Model Name: "Calatrava"
    Material: 18K pink gold and stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 12-120 PS, 18 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Patek Philippe folding clasp
    Dimensions: 36.5mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed, dial further signed by retailer Eberhard Milan
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1942 with black dial and lapped rose gold indexes and its subsequent sale on February 18, 1943.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Cased in stainless steel and pink gold, this reference 570 is truly astonishing. Boasting 36.5 mm in diameter, it exhibits full, thick lugs, and incredible proportions. The flat, cylindrical pink gold bezel retains sharp definition. The contrasting brushed and satin finishes enable the beholder to easily imagine how the watch originally left the Patek Philippe workshops in 1942. To date, no more than a handful of stainless steel and pink gold combination reference 570s have appeared on the market.

    The watch is furthermore fitted with an exquisite black lacquer dial, which is fortuitously confirmed by the Extract from the Archives. The gilt text shines through beautifully, the copper tone adding depth and charisma to the dial. Underneath the hands is the signature of Eberhard Milan, the prestigious Italian retailer has retailed some of the most impressive watches of the 20th century.

    Reference 570 was Patek Philippe's very first "large" Calatrava model that was produced in a series. At the time of production, the reference was the largest time-only wristwatch produced by the firm. Manufactured from 1938 to 1972, the model was cased predominantly in yellow gold, and rarely in pink gold, white gold, stainless steel and platinum. The reference featured a multitude of dial variations. While some were fitted with Breguet numerals, others were two-tone in design.

    Despite the myriad of design variations available, no other reference 570, to the best of our knowledge, features the present characteristics. As such, this watch not only includes every exclusive feature that any collector craves, it is also possibly unique, distinguishing it beyond any of its peers.

    This watch formerly belonged in the collection of Gordon Bethune. The CEO of Continental Airlines from 1994 until his retirement at the end of 2004, Bethune is also a well-known watch collector. An avid aviator himself, Bethune has led a long, storied life, beginning his aviation career in the U.S. Navy at the age of 16 by fixing electronic and mechanical systems on jet planes. After 20 years, he retired as a Naval Lieutenant.

    In 2012, Bethune pledged 50 of his best watches for auction, the present watch being one of the key highlights in the sale, achieving 518,500 USD - a record price for any reference 570 at the time.

  • 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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186

Ref. 570
A highly rare, large and attractive stainless steel and pink gold wristwatch with black lacquer dial, retailed by Eberhard Milan

1942
36.5mm. Diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed, dial further signed by retailer Eberhard Milan

Estimate
CHF250,000 - 500,000 
€216,000-432,000
$258,000-517,000

Sold for CHF444,500

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
+41 22 317 81 89
aghotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: SIX

Geneva Auctions 11 - 12 November 2017