Patek Philippe - Geneva Watch Auction: TWO Geneva Saturday, November 7, 2015 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1951
    Reference No: 1463
    Movement No: 868'029
    Case No: 660'166
    Model Name: "Tasti Tondi"
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 13''', 23 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel deployant buckle, stamped Patek Philippe Genève
    Dimensions: 34mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives confirming year of production of the present watch in 1951 and its subsequent sale on September 22, 1951
    Literature: John Goldberger Patek Philippe Steel Watches, pg. 300-301

  • Catalogue Essay

    Over its twenty-plus years of production, reference 1463 has made an amazing evolution, partly due to a number of subtle changes to the case, but more importantly (as more evidently) due to its constantly changing dial design.

    The last generation of dials, such as the present one, do no longer feature Arabic or Roman numerals at the 12 and 6 o'clock position, such as the previous two lots, but all hour markers are now exclusively straight baton numerals. Another noteworthy design element of these late production dials is the omission of the outer railway track, also known as chemin de fer, what collectors describe as the two or three concentric black circles connected by minute or even fifth of the seconds markings. The dial of the present watch features now only one black circle outside the incredibly contemporary facetted hour markers, lending the watch a look that has survived way into the 1990s.

    This example is the only publicly known reference 1463 in steel featuring such a dial and, has been widely acknowledged to be one of the world's best examples of Patek Philippe's iconic water-proof chronograph. This opinion is also shared by John Goldberger, author of Patek Philippe Steel Watches, who dedicated the watch a prominent position inside his book.

  • 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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Ref. 1463
An extremely rare and very attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with silvered dial, steel hour markers and tachometer scale

1951
34mm. Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF250,000 - 500,000 

Sold for CHF1,205,000

Contact Specialist
Nathalie Monbaron
+41 22 317 81 83

Geneva Watch Auction: TWO

Geneva Auction 7 & 8 November 2015 6:30pm