Patek Philippe - The New York Watch Auction: EIGHT New York Saturday, June 10, 2023 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1895
    Movement No: 97’633
    Case No: 218’643
    Material: 18K pink and yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, caliber 19
    Dimensions: 54mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, cuvette, dial, and movement signed, movement, cuvette and dial numbered
    Accessories: Accompanied by a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1895 and its subsequent sale on September 18th, 1899. Further accompanied by a 14K yellow gold pocketknife engraved with the signature of “Alfred G. Stein”, an 18K yellow gold watch chain, and commemorative medal to celebrate the formation of L’Ancienne Manufacture d’Horlogerie Patek Philippe & Cie S. A.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The technical innovation and design of the pocket watch served as the foundation for today’s high quality manual, automatic and quartz wristwatch movements. While cultural and societal norms have changed, without the complications first created for pocket watches, some of the most iconic wristwatches known today could not have come to fruition. Without these exemplary timepieces we may not have Patek Philippe’s legendary collection of complicated wristwatches like the iconic perpetual calendar wristwatch, their majestic minute repeating wristwatches, or their sublime minute repeating perpetual calendar wristwatches like the incredible reference 3974 from the end of the 20th century, or the modern 5374G still available today.

    The present pink gold minute repeating perpetual calendar pocket watch is a wonderful example of the skill and master craftsmanship associated with Patek Philippe’s mechanical innovation and workmanship. Manufactured in 1895, the dial is elegantly laid out with the moon phase placed at the 12 position, and the date in red combined with the subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock. The open face watch is graced with a slide on the right of the case, which when activated allows the watch to chime the hours, quarters and minutes. Its chimes are magnificent, clear and loud, allowing the user to correctly know the time when during the day or black of night.

    The remarkable provenance adds further importance to this stunning pocket watch, originally owned by Alfred G. Stein – an early partner of Patek Philippe & Co., as is engraved on the cuvette and the accompanying watch knife with engraved ‘Alfred G. Stein’ signature and chain. Having trained as a watchmaker, he would work for Tiffany & Co. before joining Patek Philippe in 1896. Five years later, on February 1st, 1901, Patek Philippe created a joint stock company "L'Ancienne Manufacture d'Horlogerie PATEK PHILIPPE & Cie. S.A." with the board of directors including A. Bnassy-Philipp, chairman, Jean Perrier, Franois Antonie Conty, Joseph Emile Philippe, and Alfred G. Stein.

    Stein was head of the newly-formed company’s New York office in charge of Patek Philippe’s watch distribution in America, a position he held for over three decades through Patek Philippe’s acquisition by the Stern brothers in 1932, and until his death in 1934.

    Accompanying the pocket watch is an extremely rare medallion commemorating the 1901 company creation. It features the portraits of Adrien Phillipe and Antoine Norbert de Patek, as well as the names of the five board members.

    Preserved in outstanding condition with an absolutely flawless enamel dial, its combination of complications certainly inspired the modern complicated Patek Philippe wristwatches the brand is best known for today. This lovely pocket watch, made for and owned by an important, early leader of Patek Philippe - the only known American sharedholder of Patek Philippe in its history - is a rare gem that provides a fascinating window into the outstanding workmanship of a bygone era, and provides unique insight into the brand's origins.

  • 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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A fine, attractive, and historically important pink gold minute repeating perpetual calendar pocket watch with moon phase, yellow gold watch chain with knife, and Patek Philippe commemorative medallion

1895
54mm Diameter
Case, cuvette, dial, and movement signed, movement, cuvette and dial numbered

Estimate
$80,000 - 160,000 
CHF72,000-144,000
€74,000-148,000
HK$625,000-1,250,000
S$108,000-215,000

Sold for $317,500

Contact Specialist

Paul Boutros
Head of Watches, Americas
+1 (212) 940-1293
WatchesNY@Phillips.com
 
Isabella Proia
Head of Sale, New York
+1 (212) 940 1285
iproia@phillips.com

The New York Watch Auction: EIGHT

New York Auction 10 - 11 June 2023