Patek Philippe - The Geneva Watch Auction: XX Geneva Saturday, November 9, 2024 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1925, 1938
    Reference No: 600
    Movement No: 198'004
    Case No: 618'751
    Material: 18k yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 18''', 31 jewels
    Dimensions: 48mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1925, its subsequent sale on December 13, 1935 and the execution of a service in 1938 during which the case was upgraded to the current one.

  • Catalogue Essay

    It is not uncommon for Patek Philippe to case and sell their most complicated and valuable movements sometimes even years after their initial production. This is the case here as it wasn’t until 1935 that this perpetual calendar minute repeating movement was first sold, having been made 10 years earlier in 1925. It is even more fascinating that already 3 years later (in 1938) the watch returned to Patek Philippe and was upgraded with a number of new features: a new reference 600 case in yellow gold, together with a state-of-the-art black dial, very much en vogue in the late 1930s. Most likely, the current black dial was installed on this occasion as well. Even the movement was modernised, receiving a Glucydur balance, invented only a few years earlier. The advantage of this balance lies in the alloy composed of beryllium and copper providing greatest stability for a wider spectrum of temperatures. The screw-less design enjoys furthermore greater aerodynamic efficiency.

    Few complicated Patek Philippe pocket watches are known from the pre-war era and the present example, preserved in excellent and all original condition, is an extraordinary collector’s watch: it not only embodies Patek Philippe's ethos of being at the forefront of watchmaking innovation, but also represents one of the most attractive vintage pocket proposition of the company in virtue of its black dial.

  • 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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Ref. 600
An exceptional, unique and technically important yellow gold keyless lever openface minute repeating pocket watch with perpetual calendar, moonphases, black dial, and glucydur balance

1925, 1938
48mm Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF150,000 - 300,000 
€160,000-319,000
$173,000-346,000

Sold for CHF152,400

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Europe, and Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
aghotbi@phillips.com

 

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88

tto@phillips.com

 

 

The Geneva Watch Auction: XX

Geneva Auction 9 - 10 November 2024