Patek Philippe’s reference 1463 was launched in 1940, and remained in production for approximately 25 years. The timepiece, along with its companion reference 1563 split-seconds chronograph, was the brand’s first and only vintage-era waterproof chronograph produced, featuring a water resistant screw-back case and round pump pushers. Research indicates approximately 750 examples were produced with the majority made in yellow gold, a very limited number in stainless steel, and an exceptionally small number in pink gold.
Nicknamed “Tasti Tondi” by Italian collectors for the round chronograph pushers, the reference 1463 was a sportier alternative to the less robust reference 130, and the desire for the model has never waned. The model was Patek Philippe’s first sports chronograph designed for a modern society with an increasing interest in outdoor activities, and even for industrial use in scientific and medical environments due to a second inner case which shielded the movement against magnetism. Today, this timepiece is one of the most sought after vintage Patek Philippe chronographs available, and is cherished for its classic modern design.
A number of different dial designs are known for the reference. In increasing rarity, one can move from the simpler baton indexes with Arabic “12” and “6”, throughout its iterations - baton of varying sizes, dot, and lapidated indexes have been seen; the “12” and “6” numerals can be Arabic, Roman, or at times just another markers like the rest of the dial -, passing by the famous Breguet dials, and eventually arriving where this piece stands: the sector, two-tone dial.
Echoing sensitivities of the previous two decades (1920’s and 1930s), Patek Philippe sector dials are a result of balance between two opposite forces. On the one side, Belle Époque influences are felt through the highly complicated architecture of the design (light years away from the “militaristic” dial designs of the 1940s). On the other hand the Bauhaus motto “form after functions” - ensures the every element of the design is serving the higher purpose of increased legibility: the sectors and alternating tones of the finishing work to highlight scales and numerals. The final result is baffling in its boundless beauty and charisma.
As if a two-tone sector dial on a steel ref. 1463 - of which four are known so far - was not enough, the present watch adds to the ensemble a Walser Wald signature and a highly unusual telemetre scale rather than the most commonly seen tachymeter one. In fact, this is the only known reference 1463 with the Walser Wald signature on the dial.
It is our understanding that the present watch was indeed sold to Walser Wald in Argentina. Furthermore, the present watch has a prominent place of four pages in Patek Philippe Orologi Complicati da Polso, which was at the time one of the most celebrated watch collections in the world.
The condition of the watch fully matches its beauty and rarity, with a wonderfully preserved case and an absolutely unrestored engraved/enameled dial (with printed telemetre scale, as expected) featuring, as expected from an unrestored dial 80 years old, some minor surface marks. The watch was in fact submitted last year to Patek Philippe restoration service who returned the accompanying Condition Report card which explicitly states that the dial would be damaged by a restoration, as if imploring the owner to not compromise the integrity and historical importance of such an unrestored dial. Luckily, the owner accepted the implicit suggestion of the company and did not go through with the service, thus allowing this museum-quality piece to remain unmarred, now ready to become the crown jewel of another collection.
