Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: Circa 1980 Reference No: 912 Movement No: 937’026 Case No: 2’789’963 Material: 18K yellow gold, diamonds, rubies, seed pearls Calibre: Manual, cal. 17-170 SQU, 18 kewels Dimensions: 48mm Diameter Signed: Case and movement signed. Accessories: With ornate Patek Philippe guilloche red enamel, gold, and diamond-set pocket watch stand.
Catalogue Essay
A formidable combination of watchmaking, skeletonisation, and high jewelry, this watch is an impressive 48mm in diameter but incredibly thin, with its elegant profile matched only by the barely-there movement. Despite having been open-worked to an astonishing degree, the calibre 17’’’170 within has been richly hand-engraved with an elaborate motif that continues into the front and back of the case, including the bow. A dozen rubies are placed around the front bezel acting as hour markers, accentuated by a large ruby cabochon inlaid into the crown, and the bezel at the reverse is encircled entirely by diamonds.
A new addition to known scholarship, this skeletonized pocket watch reference 912 comes from the estate of a distinctive American collector, also the consignor of the reference 2499 in this same sale. Now the sixth example known to the public, it features seed pearls around the caseband, diamonds surrounding the bezel and at the bow, and rubies on the bezel functioning as hour markers. In pristine overall condition, it is further enhanced by a gloriously ornate, solid yellow gold and red enamel stand studded judiciously with diamonds. The stand itself is almost rococo-inspired, with elaborate scrolling arms meeting in a small, diamond-embellished dome at the top. The dais and arms of both are augmented by richly saturated polychrome enamel in a ruby red color.
A superb, fresh-to-the-market discovery with a possibly unique stand, the present example is a treasure for the most ardent collectors of Patek Philippe’s mètiers d’arts.
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.
Ref. 912 One of six known, an ornate, fabulous, and fresh-to-the-market skeletonized yellow gold, pearl, diamond, and ruby-set open-face pocket watch with fitted gold, diamond, and enamel presentation stand
Circa 1980 48mm Diameter Case and movement signed.