Patek Philippe - The New York Watch Auction: SEVEN New York Saturday, December 10, 2022 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: Circa 2017
    Reference No: 5131R
    Movement No: 7’035’726
    Case No: 6’180’093
    Model Name: World Time
    Material: 18K pink gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 240 HU, 33 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 40mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin dated April 10, 2017, wooden presentation box, leather envelope, product literature and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    World time watches were invented, as is the case with most innovations, out of necessity. With the advent of the industrial age came global trade and travel and, as a direct result, there was a need for timekeeping devices capable of tracking time in multiple locations. The world time complication, other than being a utilitarian invention, is also a window into history. With the rise and fall of nations, one capital replaced another as reference city for a specific time zone.

    Surprisingly, watchmakers did not immediately take the opportunity of creating world time watches based on the 24hour time zones set up by the International Meridian Conference of 1884. Was this due to the complexity of the mechanism, the lack of demand, national issues with the exact division of the time zones or the legendary Swiss neutrality (not wanting to put forward one nation by having its capital be the city of reference for that time zone)? Whatever the answer, world time watches as we know them today remained off the radar until the early 1930s and an invention by genius watchmaker Louis Cottier. It is around that period in 1930/1931 that Cottier designed a movement featuring a local time with hour and minute hands at center, linked to a rotating 24hour ring, and bordered by a fixed outer dial ring with the names of different cities inscribed on it. The city of choice (local time zone) was placed at the 12 o'clock position with the hours/minutes handset at local time, the watch would then display the correct time in both hours and minutes, night and day, for every time zone in the world simultaneously, all the while allowing easy and accurate reading of local time, and all on a single dial.

    With reference 5131, Patek Philippe resurrected the line of Cloisonné world time pieces - which originally appeared in the 1950s and are now considered amongst the masterpieces of the brand. Launched originally in yellow gold, it was produced in the three gold colors and in platinum. In 2021, the last scion of reference 5131 (the platinum version) was discontinued, officially sanctioning the end of this landmark reference.

    The present pink gold reference 5131R is fresh to the market, offered by the original owner. The watch is in excellent condition and is a harmonious balance between form and function, mechanical and beauty. The watch is complete with its original Certificate of Origin, accessories and presentation box.

    CONSIGNED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER

  • 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

Σ38

Ref. 5131R
A very rare and fine pink gold world time wristwatch with cloisonné enamel dial, Certificate of Origin and presentation box

Circa 2017
40mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
$70,000 - 140,000 
CHF66,500-133,000
€67,700-135,000
HK$548,000-1,100,000
S$96,400-193,000

Sold for $94,500

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: SEVEN

New York Auction 10 - 11 December 2022