Patek Philippe - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIX featuring the Guido Mondani Collection Geneva Saturday, May 11, 2024 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1944
    Reference No: 1485
    Movement No: 911'947
    Case No: 627'264
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 10-110, 18 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Patek Philippe pin buckle stamped PPCo
    Dimensions: 27mm Width and 34.5mm Length
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1944 and its subsequent sale on December 6, 1945.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Launched in 1940, reference 1485 was to our knowledge, only created in stainless steel. The case was designed in the attempt to render it water-resistant by using the sliding sides. In short this was a very innovative design with an inner case compartment with gaskets being pressed together with the metal sliders on the sides of the outer case. The patent for this new case was registered on 25th August 1938 as Swiss patent CH 207378, and published 31st October 1939. To date, only approximately 21 examples of the reference have ever appeared on the auction market, and to the best of our knowledge, the present watch is the only known example with this signature on the dial.

    Fresh to the auction market, the present watch is a very attractive example, retailed by Freccero as seen by the retailer's signature on the dial. A legendary retailer, Freccero, is based in Uruguay and is still in business today. While it no longer retails Patek Philippe, the store sold some of the most unique retailed-signed watches of the past century. The dial features the correct long signature, and the enamel is raised and incredibly strong. The comma between "Patek, Philippe" is present, as is the accent in the "Genève" signature.

  • 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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From the Guido Mondani Collection

10

Ref. 1485
A rare and attractive stainless steel square-shaped wristwatch with subsidiary seconds, retailed by Freccero

1944
27mm Width and 34.5mm Length
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF10,000 - 20,000 
€10,200-20,500
$11,000-21,900

Sold for CHF38,100

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

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIX featuring the Guido Mondani Collection

Geneva Auction 11 - 12 May 2024