製造商: Patek Philippe 年份: 1939 型號: 565 機芯編號: 829'296 錶殼號碼: 618'972, inner dust cap cover present 材料: Stainless steel 機芯: Manual, cal. 12-120 SC, 20 jewels 錶帶/ 錶鏈: Stainless steel Gay Frères riveted extendable bracelet, max length 185mm 錶扣: Stainless steel Gay Frères deployant clasp 尺寸: 35mm Diameter 簽名: Case, dial and movement signed, dial further signed Freccero 配件: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with "Black dial, raised indexes in steel" and 1939 and its subsequent sale on August 31st, 1939
圖錄文章
Patek Philippe's reference 565 is most certainly one of the most iconic time-only watches from the 1940s to bear the prestigious Geneva manufacture's name on the dial. Released in 1938, the model featured innovative and enduring qualities that today make it a collector’s favorite.
The present lot, most probably fresh to the auction market, is one of the most impressive examples of its kind to ever appear. To find a stainless steel reference 565 with black dial is already a rarity itself. Yet, to discover one that is confirmed by the Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives, retailed by Freccero and with an "ACUATIC" inscription on the dial is positively unheard of. In fact, the present watch is possibly the only known stainless steel reference 565 with black dial in the present configuration. There is a photograph of a similar watch that was sold in the 1980s at auction with the same characteristics and tiny visual differences, but given the lack of publicly published movement numbers, we cannot ascertain that the two are the same watch.
The watch is fitted with a black glossy finished dial that has aged beautifully through the passage of time. An additional layer of interest comes from the fact that this is one of the earliest examples of this model to feature the long painted "Patek Philippe & Co" signature that is free from any losses. Furthermore, a very original and unusual “ACUATIC” inscription is featured at 6 o’clock referring to its water-resistant case corroborated by the screw-down caseback. The watch is furthermore fitted with a beautiful period correct Gay Frères bracelet that was added by the present owner to give the watch back its full splendour. Remarkably well-preserved, the case and the downturned lugs remain very sharp with well-defined proportions.
Original stainless steel references 565 with black dials are of such rarity that in John Goldberger's Steel Watches book dedicated to Patek Philippe steel watches, there are only two examples illustrated further underlining their gem character.
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.