製造商: Patek Philippe 年份: 1995 型號: 5050 機芯編號: 1’957’603 錶殼號碼: 2’980’959 材料: Platinum 機芯: Automatic, cal. 315/136, 31 jewels 錶帶/ 錶鏈: Crocodile 錶扣: Platinum Patek Philippe pin buckle 尺寸: 35mm diameter 簽名: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed 配件: 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. 來源: 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
來源
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
圖錄文章
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.
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.
