Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1952 Reference No: 1463 Movement No: 868'387 Case No: 672'778 Model Name: "Tasti Tondi" Material: 18k pink gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 13''', 23 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Pink gold Patek Philippe buckle Dimensions: 35mm. Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: With Extract from the Archives confirming year of production of the present watch in 1952, and its subsequent sale on May 20, 1953
Catalogue Essay
Since its launch in 1940, the desirability of the reference 1463 has never waned. The only vintage chronograph model by Patek Philippe fitted with a water-resistant-type case and round chronograph buttons is as popular today as it was at the time of its inception.
The majority were cased in yellow gold, some were cased in steel and examples in pink gold are amongst the most rare and were often reserved for the South American market, like the present watch, bearing the retailer's signature, Casa Welsch SA, Lima, Peru.
G. Welsch was founded in 1858 and was the Peruvian subsidiary of the German company GEO EHNI & CO, which specialized in the business of luxury watches and jewelry. Since its founding it has remained essentially a sole family business through their 150 years of existence.
Few examples of Patek Philippe's landmark reference 1463 watches have such a presence on the wrist, and the pink gold example we see here combines many highly desirable elements. The gold case and gold numerals and hands pair very well with the warm two-toned dial, showing that only a few complicated vintage wristwatches can better echo the style of the 1950’s than a gold ref.1463.
The rare retailer's signature of "Casa Welsch S. A. Lima" is the ‘icing on the cake’ for collectors of the finest timepieces.
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.