Patek Philippe - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIII Geneva Saturday, May 8, 2021 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1912
    Reference No: 96
    Movement No: 171'359
    Case No: 620'072
    Model Name: Calatrava
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 12'', 18 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel vintage pin buckle
    Dimensions: 30.5mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and vintage strap signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe fitted presentation box and Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1912 and its subsequent sale on April 6, 1940.

  • Catalogue Essay

    A stalwart in Patek Philippe's line of production, reference 96 was manufactured from 1932 until 1973. The archetypal "Calatrava", the model was inspired by the Bauhaus aesthetic canon of "form follows function", resulting in a timeless purity and harmony of case lines, echoed still today in the firm's designs. The success of the model prompted a number of dial and hand variations to appear throughout its production period, and the model is known with different calibres and different seconds indication: center seconds, seconds at six, and the present very rare "no-second" variant, which brings to the extreme the purity of the design. One can immediately infer by the long Patek Philippe & Co. signature that the model is pre-1948, and indeed this piece was sold in 1940, but an additional peculiarity is that it is powered by a 1912 movement, as is sometimes found in early Patek Philippe wristwatches, adding a layer of intellectual interest to the piece.

    While the model was usually cased in yellow gold or pink gold, this is a very well-preserved stainless steel variation. Patek Philippe were, already back then, important and costly timepieces, so most of their production was (and still is) in gold. Stainless steel pieces are notoriously much scarcer, which compounds to the rarity of the "no-second" variation: so far, only 15 examples of this combination are known to scholars.

  • 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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This lot is offered without Reserve

115

Lot offered with No Reserve

Ref. 96
A fine, rare and well-preserved stainless steel wristwatch

1912
30.5mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and vintage strap signed

Estimate
CHF10,000 - 20,000 
€9,100-18,100
$10,900-21,800

Sold for CHF20,160

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

41 79 637 1724
aghotbi@phillips.com

 

 

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIII

Geneva Auction 8 - 9 May 2021