Patek Philippe - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: X Hong Kong Friday, July 10, 2020 | Phillips

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: X

Hong Kong Auction 10 July 2020

  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1995
    Reference No: 5050
    Movement No: 1’957’603
    Case No: 2’980’959
    Material: Platinum
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 315/136, 31 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile
    Clasp/Buckle: Platinum Patek Philippe pin buckle
    Dimensions: 35mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Further accompanied by undated Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin stamped Fratelli Piccini, Giollieri, setting pin, additional solid caseback, leather folio, instruction manual, product literature, outer packaging and fitted winding presentation box. Further delivered with Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the date of manufacture of the present timepiece in 1995 and its subsequent date of sale on 4th June 1997.
    Provenance: Reginald H. Fullerton, Jr
    Sotheby's, New York, The Late Reginald H. Fullerton, Jr and his grandfather Henry Graves, Jr., June 14 2012, lot 24

  • Provenance

    Reginald H. Fullerton, Jr
    Sotheby's, New York, The Late Reginald H. Fullerton, Jr and his grandfather Henry Graves, Jr., June 14 2012, lot 24

  • Catalogue Essay

    In watch collecting, only a handful of names are as revered and respected as Henry Graves. Born in 1868, the American banker, financier and patron of the horological arts, is renowned for having curated one of the, if not most, important private collections of the 20th century.
    Known for his keen eye and exquisite taste, Graves devoted his time and purse to pursuing the most fascinating and exciting masterpieces that challenged the technical proficiencies at the time. Notoriously competitive, he rivalled another American collector and auto manufacturer magnate, James Ward Packard, in a friendly ‘pissing contest’, resulting in the world’s most complicated portable timepiece for 56 years running.

    A perpetual dream, this unique Patek Philippe Supercomplication pocket watch is equipped with Twenty-four individual complications and took eight years to build. Finally completed in 1933, the masterpiece undoubtedly attests to the Swiss manufacturer’s mechanical prowess that remains unchallenged today. Following the firm’s famous slogan: “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.” his daughter became the custodian of his historically significant collection after his passing. She later bestowed it upon his grandson, Reginald H. Fullerton Jr.

    Like grandfather, like grandson, Fullerton was a passionate watch enthusiast who maintained Grave’s pieces while also assembling his own impressive collection of distinguished timepieces in exceptional condition. In addition to his thorough record-keeping and daily maintenance, Mr Fullerton insisted that cases and dials not be touched during cleaning and servicing and that almost all of his watches retain their original accompaniments. The result is a time capsule collection, with each example seemingly untouched since its construction. The present platinum ref. 5050 became one of his many prized possessions in 2003.

    Introduced at Baselworld in 1993, the reference 5050 was Patek Philippe’s first perpetual calendar wristwatch with retrograde date produced in series. The 35mm diameter two-piece case by Favre-Perret was launched in yellow gold, pink gold, white gold, and platinum. Research estimates that approximately 150 examples were encased in platinum in three series throughout its nine-year production span. The first featured thin painted Roman numerals, while the second series, released in 1995 featured the much-requested applied baton indexes and an “Automatic” designation below the moon phase. The third series, like the present platinum example, had applied Roman numerals without the “Automatic” signature.

    The present reference 5050 first came to auction in 2012 during the Reginald H Fullerton, Jr auction and now comes to the public market for the second time. Patek Philippe’s perpetual calendars are an excellent example of craftsmanship, and this is a rare opportunity to own an example of their historical past with an important horological lineage.

  • 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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Σ1056

Patek Philippe

Ref. 5050
A fine, attractive, and historically interesting platinum perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, retrograde date, leap year indication, applied Roman numerals, Certificate of Origin and presentation box

1995
35mm diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
HK$680,000 - 1,200,000 
€79,400-140,000
$87,200-154,000

Sold for HK$875,000

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi

Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001

WatchesHK@phillips.com

 

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: X

Hong Kong Auction 10 July 2020