Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1894 Movement No: 103'067 Case No: 215'930 Material: Silver and 18K pink gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 18'', "mustache" escapement, "wolf tooth" gears, jeweled Dimensions: 48,5mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1894 and its subsequent sale on November 21, 1895
Catalogue Essay
It truly hardly ever happen to find a circa 120-years-old object preserved in condition as good and honest as the present timepiece. The case does not present signs of excessive polishing or wear, and the enamel dial with painted Breguet numerals and railway minute divisions - all traits that make the heart of a vintage enthusiast beat faster - has miraculously survived in flawless condition, exemplifying how enamel dials, if properly looked after (that is, if kept away from shocks) can truly be considered near-eternal.
The movement as well reveals a plethora of treats for the connoisseur of vintage watches as it features details - such as the wolf tooth gears and the "mustache" escapement - which fell in disuse during the earliest part of the 20th century.
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.
