Patek Philippe - The New York Watch Auction: SIX New York Saturday, June 11, 2022 | Phillips

Create your first list.

Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.

  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1913 / 1923
    Movement No: 177'556
    Case No: 288'551
    Model Name: Calatrava
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, 12’’’, 18 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Patek Philippe leather strap
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe pin buckle
    Dimensions: 32mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming manufacture of the present watch in 1913 with luminous "Dauphine" numeral and enamel dial, and its subsequent sale on November 13th, 1923.

  • Catalogue Essay

    As the precedent, time-only example of the famed Calatrava model, which has been the cornerstone of the Patek Philippe catalogue for almost a century, this officer-cased timepiece comes from the vaunted Ride the Wave collection. Adorned with a grand feu enamel dial, the typical painted Breguet numerals have been replaced (likely by special request of the original purchaser) by oversized Arabic luminous numerals, in spectacularly preserved condition. Underneath the cuvette, the Victorin Piguet ébauche is equipped with a wolf’s tooth winding and in place gilt bridges. These officier-cased Calatrava’s are typically seen produced between 1922 and 1927.

    The present officer-cased Calatrava is engraved on the cuvette “made for Forry Rohrer Getz” and dated 1923. Luckily, Mr. Getz is not a mystery. He was born in 1877 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a descendent of Johannes Getz who had immigrated to Pennsylvania from Germany decades before the American Revolution. In fact, the original deed to the Getz farm was signed by the founder of Pennsylvania - William Penn himself. Forry was the eldest of seven children born to Noah and Fanny Getz, and great-great grandson of John Jacob Getz, Jr., a private in the Lancaster County militia during the Revolutionary War, and therefore a recognized member of the Sons of the American Revolution. He attended dental school at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated Omicron Kappa Upsilon, and later established a successful dental practice in New York. He resided in Forest Hills, Queens, and his name can be found on several papers proposing advancements in dentistry. According to the original cataloguing of this watch, Dr. Getz and his wife Kathleen were traveling in Switzerland in 1923 where they commissioned and ordered the present Calatrava. Dr. Getz passed away in 1958, and his younger son Edwin – also a dentist - inherited this timepiece.

  • 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.

    View More Works

Σ105

A charming, rare, and early yellow gold officier-style wristwatch with hinged caseback, wire lugs, and oversized luminous indexes, made for Forry Rohrer Getz

1913 / 1923
32mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.

Estimate
$6,000 - 12,000 
CHF6,000-11,900
€5,800-11,500
HK$47,100-94,200
S$8,400-16,700

Sold for $32,760

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: SIX

New York Auction 11-12 June 2022