Patek Philippe - The Geneva Watch Auction: XVIII Geneva Friday, November 3, 2023 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1943
    Reference No: 130
    Movement No: 863'229
    Case No: 626'181
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 13''', 23 jewels, stamped with the Geneva seal
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Patek Philippe pin buckle
    Dimensions: 33mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract form the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1943 with silvered dial, tachymeter scale and applied steel hour markers, and its subsequent sale on April 23, 1945.

  • Catalogue Essay

    In 1932, Patek Philippe was acquired by the Jean & Charles Stern Company and in the same year the firm launched the reference number system via the Calatrava ref. 96. In 1934, Patek Philippe released their very first serially produced chronograph wristwatches which two years later, with the advent of the reference system, was renamed as the reference 130. Following the teaching of the Bauhaus movement “form follows function”, the watch is features an extremely elegant and sleek 33 mm case defined by simple clean lines. The dial as well is an interpretation of this philosophy as the two-tone finish helps to set the tachymeter and fifth-of-a-second scales (usually employed in conjunction with the chronograph) apart from the central time indications: beautiful yet practical.

    
Early examples of the reference were mono-pusher chronographs powered by a Victorin Piguet-based caliber. In 1936, the firm switched to a Valjoux-based cal. 13’’’, with each movement hand finished with Geneva stripes by the most skilled watchmakers at the time. While gold cases featured slightly thinner, more elongated lugs, stainless steel cases boost a markedly more compact and masculine design.

It is estimated that only 270 pieces in stainless steel were produced between 1937 to 1951, but when one looks at two-tone examples the totality of the examples appeared at auction amounts to a meager 21 specimens.

    The present representative of this restricted category of timepieces further distinguishes itself not only for its superlative dial condition but also for its dial style. Presenting a stunningly strong two-tone effect and fully engraved-enameled graphics, the present 1943 dial features a long “Patek Philippe & Co” signature, highly sought-after by collectors and abandoned in the late 1940s. The die-hard connoisseur will also be delighted in discovering some subtle details of the graphics which are typical of earlier dials - such as the minutely serifed graphics employed for the numbers in the subsidiary counters (easily noticed when looking at the 4s and 2s) which will be abandoned in the late 1940s. Also the fact that the tachymeter scale is enameled is typical of pre-war production, as later dials usually feature an engraved-enameled center adapted as needed by printing the appropriate scale on the outer blank sector - a much more cost-effective methodology.

  • 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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Σ91

Ref. 130
An outstandingly attractive and extremely rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with two-tone dial

1943
33mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF80,000 - 160,000 
€83,100-166,000
$87,900-176,000

Sold for CHF107,950

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Europe, and Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
AGhotbi@phillips.com

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

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The Geneva Watch Auction: XVIII

Geneva Auction 3 - 4 November 2023