Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1946 Reference No: 1463 Movement No: 863’938 Case No: 640’559 Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 13’’’, 23 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Patek Philippe pin buckle stamped PPCo Dimensions: 35mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin and Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1946 with silvered dial, raised hour markers in steel and tachometer scale and its subsequent sale on June 20, 1947.
Catalogue Essay
It is safe to say that Patek Philippe’s reference 1463 chronograph is considered by collectors as one of the most attractive and utterly bombastic vintage chronographs of our times. The desirability of this reference is taken one step further by the present model thanks to the addition of the its Certificate of Origin - an enormous rarity in itself.
Reference 1463 was first launched in 1940, and production continued for approximately 25 years. It was the first and only waterproof chronograph produced by Patek Philippe featuring a screw-back case and round pump pushers.
While each featured a ten-sided screw back case and playful rounded chronograph-pushers, known as "Tasti Tondi" in Italian, there were many dial variations. The present example features a beautiful silvered dial with a "long" signature, applied raised steel markers, subsidiary dials, and railway track.
Its overall condition is incredible, with an immaculate case retaining a crisp finishing, with thick lugs and a sharp bezel. The wonderful state of preservation suggests the watch was hardly worn, and lovingly cared for over its long history.
To further add to the prestige of the present watch is its provenance. It first appeared on the auction market in 2011, when it was auctioned by the family of the original owner. Since then, it was auctioned in 2014 where it largely surpassed its auction estimate. It has since then slept in a safe of a highly important collector, only to reappear at auction after a decade.
This remarkable stainless steel example combines so many desirable elements sought after by collectors, making it a worthy addition for a world-class collection of complicated Patek Philippe wristwatches.
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.
