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1091

Patek Philippe

Ref. 685

A fine and very rare pink gold openface chronograph pocket watch with pink dial, 30-minute register and tachometer scale

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Patek Philippe introduced the reference 685 in the 1930s and production was limited to a very small number. The present watch is one of five known examples in pink gold to be offered at auction. A mid-20th century chronograph, it has a modern feel with clean lines and a 46 mm diameter case dominated by dual start-stop-reset buttons situated on either side of the winding setting crown. The lovely pink gold dial highlights the pink gold case and features a tachometer scale, vertical registers and hard enamel long signature.

An interesting footnote for the reference 685 is discovered when the case back is removed and one finds the movement is set within a frame, unlike most watch movements, which fill the entire space. In an unusual design perspective, this chronograph features the caliber 13’’’130, which is the typical wristwatch movement found in other famed Patek Philippe chronographs timepieces like the references 130, 1463, 1579 and 530. Today, the chronograph wristwatch is king within the world of vintage collectible watches, however these early and rare chronograph pocket watches are equally important both from a design and technical perspective.

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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