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FROM AN IMPORTANT SWISS COLLECTOR

980

Patek Philippe

Ref. 605 HU

World-Time Dress Watch

A rare and highly attractive open face world-time pocket watch with presentation box and original certificate of origin

Estimate
HK$400,000 - 640,000
€44,000 - 70,500
$51,300 - 82,100
HK$775,000
Lot Details
Manufacturer
Patek Philippe
Year
1946
Reference No
605 HU
Movement No
930'540
Case No
642'702
Model Name
World-Time Dress Watch
Material
18K yellow gold
Calibre
Manual, cal. 17”170, 18 jewels
Dimensions
45mm. Diameter
Signed
Case, dial and movement signed
Accessories
With brown leather Patek Philippe presentation box, original certificate of origin dated 11 May 1948, Patek Philippe instructional sheet in French, with typed English translation. Further delivered with Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1946 and its subsequent sale on May 11th, 1948
Catalogue Essay
By the late 1930’s travel was becoming more common and in 1937 Patek Philippe released the reference 605HU (Heures Universelles) which was designed by the genius watchmaker Louis Cottier. His mechanical design was easily set and read all from one dial. The watch featured a rotating 24-hour dial with an outer rotating ring with 42 world cities. The local time would be set at the 12 position, and the watch would display the correct time for the remaining cities.

From 1946, the present watch is in excellent condition and is accompanied by its original presentation box and certificate of origin. It is one of approximately 46 examples, and the 20th to come to market. This is a very rare opportunity to own a modern marvel that is in a complete set.

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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