Patek Philippe - The New York Watch Auction: XI New York Saturday, December 7, 2024 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 2021
    Reference No: 992/107J-001
    Movement No: 7’099’050
    Case No: 6’113’863
    Model Name: "Le Douanier Rousseau"
    Material: 18K yellow gold, yellow sapphire (0.34ct)
    Calibre: Manual, Cal. 17”’ LEP PS, 18 jewels
    Dimensions: 44mm Diameter
    Signed: Dial, case, and movement signed by Patek Philippe; enamel painting signed by Anita Porchet.
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin dated July 2021, matching yellow gold and Macassar ebony pocket watch stand, large leather folio with factory photographs of the watch, silver protective box for pocket watch stand, presentation box and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The words "Rare Handcrafts" carry profound significance within the realm of Patek Philippe. In its commitment to safeguarding Geneva's prestigious artisanal heritage, the brand hosts an annual exhibition to showcase an extraordinary collection of one-of-a-kind and limited-edition timepieces, all crafted to highlight age-old techniques such as marquetry, gem-setting, guilloché, enameling, and hand-engraving.

    The present masterpiece from the Rare Handcrafts collection embodies four of these five crafts, resulting in a stunning and totally unique work of horological art. Crafted entirely from yellow gold, its case features intricate guilloché and a hand-engraved, leaf-like basket-weave motif, perfectly complementing the watch's jungle-inspired theme. A yellow sapphire, set on the crown, perhaps symbolizes the sun streaming through dense foliage that is meticulously depicted on the bow band. However, the true focal point of this exceptional timepiece is the miniature rendition of Henri Rousseau's "Fight Between a Tiger and a Buffalo," masterfully reimagined by Anita Porchet.

    Henri Rousseau's Tiger with a Buffalo (also known as Fight Between a Tiger and a Buffalo) is a striking and vivid depiction of the natural world, set in a lush jungle. Painted in 1908, the scene shows a fierce tiger attacking a buffalo in a dense, exotic forest filled with rich green vegetation and wild plant life. The animals are locked in a tense, primal struggle, with the tiger's body crouched, teeth bared, and claws extended as it clings to the buffalo. The buffalo, in contrast, appears in distress, its powerful body contorted as it struggles to escape. Despite the violent subject matter, there is a calm, otherworldly stillness to the jungle itself, as if the surroundings are separate from the brutal confrontation taking place.

    Anita Porchet masterfully reproduced this lush jungle in miniature enamel with fantastic detail: working with 12 basic colors and calling for more than 20 firings at temperatures of 800°C.

    Turning to the main dial, the solid gold base is meticulously hand-guillochéed, then layered with translucent enamel, creating a rich depth and dimensionality in a stunning display of flinqué enameling. The Breguet numerals, darkened through galvanization, stand out beautifully against the gold background, providing a striking contrast that enhances the dial’s elegance.

    This exceptional work of horological art pays homage to the timeless traditions of fine watchmaking while presenting an aesthetic that is both visually captivating and contemporary. It is truly a masterpiece for both devoted Patek Philippe collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate the pinnacle of modern artisanal craftsmanship.

    Presented in like-new condition and complete with all its original accessories, including a hand-crafted yellow gold stand on an oval Macassar ebony base, this unique reference 992/107J is being offered for the first time at auction—an unmissable opportunity.

  • 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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Ref. 992/107J-001
A unique, highly important, and superbly attractive yellow gold pocket watch with miniature enamel painting by Anita Porchet, hand-engraved and hand-executed guilloché dial, matching yellow gold and Macassar ebony stand, with Certificate of Origin and presentation boxes

2021
44mm Diameter
Dial, case, and movement signed by Patek Philippe; enamel painting signed by Anita Porchet.

Estimate
$150,000 - 300,000 
CHF132,000-264,000
€141,000-281,000
HK$1,170,000-2,330,000

Sold for $355,600

Contact Specialist

Paul Boutros
Deputy Chairman, Watches, 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: XI

New York Auction 7 - 8 December 2024