Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1948 Reference No: 565 Movement No: 963'311 Case No: 648'582 Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 12-120, 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Black calf leather strap Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel associated buckle Dimensions: 34.5mm diameter Signed:Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1948 with raised gold hour markers and its subsequent sale on March 29, 1949.
Catalogue Essay
Reference 565 was first launched in 1938. Manufactured as a time-only sports watch with screw case back, there are many dial variations that exist. The present watch, cased in stainless steel, is a very attractive example: the sharp edge between the flat bezel and the curved case body - a detail which defines the reference and its looks - is remarkably well preserved. An additional layer of interest comes from the fact that this is one of the very last examples of this model to feature the long "Patek Philippe & Co" signature, as it was made in 1948: the very year when the company switched to the simpler "Patek Philippe" signature.
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.