Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1944 Reference No: 685 Movement No: 863'376 Case No: 636'848 Material: 18k pink gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 13''', 23 jewels Dimensions: 46 mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: With an Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1944, and its subsequent sale on March 27th, 1946
Catalogue Essay
Introduced by Patek Philippe during the 1930s, Reference 685 pocket watches were produced in very small series. To date, only three examples of this reference in rose gold have appeared at auction.
This open-face chronograph watch with attractive vertical registers was manufactured in 1944, and, according to the Extract from the Archives, was later sold in March 1946. The two-tone rose-colored dial is calibrated with a tachometer scale along its outer circumference. Two sunken sub-dials, elegantly positioned at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock, indicate the elapsed minutes of the chronograph function and the timekeeping seconds, respectively. Featuring hard, raised enamel print throughout, the dial perfectly matches the rose gold, 46 mm case that protects the extremely fine caliber 13-130 within.
It is not known to all collectors that the 13-130 movement used in this pocket watch is the same ébauche movement found in Patek Philippe’s wristwatch chronographs, such as references 130, 1463, 1579, and 530, some of which in rose gold are fetching up to and over ten times the current value of this rare reference 685.
The present example is distinguished by its spectacular overall condition, that when combined with its rarity and excellent value, make it a pocket watch collector’s dream come true.
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.