Patek Philippe - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: EIGHT Hong Kong Monday, May 27, 2019 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1900
    Movement No: 111’825
    Case No: 226’389
    Material: 18k yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 17'''
    Dimensions: 47mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, cuvette, movement and dial signed by maker, cuvette and movement signed by retailer
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe purple suede fitted presentation box. Further accompanied by Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with Breguet numerals in 1900 and its subsequent sale on August 8th, 1901.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The minute repeater has had a long and storied history in the pantheon of Patek Philippe. The first repeating watch mechanism was invented by Daniel Quare around 1680 and over a few short years other watchmakers improved upon the mechanism so that in 1687 Thomas Tompion along with Daniel Quare and Edward Barlow applied for a patent for quarter repeating mechanism with two hammers. By 1710 Samuel Watson created the first five-minute repeating mechanism and in 1750 Thomas Mudge was attributed with the first minute striking mechanism. Abraham-Louis Breguet created a striking mechanism with high and low tones at the end of the 18th century using a gong based system with steel coil inside the case. Patek Philippe first recorded repeating mechanism was a quarter repeater from 1839, and in 1845 they released their first minute repeating. Since that time, the brand has added repeat functions first to pocket watches and later to wristwatches and often in combination with other combinations like a chronograph or split-chronograph, as well as perpetual calendar watches.

    Fresh to the market, the present Patek Philippe is a lovely example of these complicated repeating timepieces. In excellent overall condition, the repeat has a clear tone and quality. The dial is without hairlines and is artistically rendered with Breguet numerals and outer red Arabic fifth seconds. The watch was sold in 1901 to J. H. Leyson Watchmaker and Jeweler at 221 Upper Main Street, Butte Montana. Today’s collectors often chase after minute repeating wristwatches, however the complicated pocket watch, which costs fractions what a minute wristwatch costs today, is a window in to the past and a monument to the skill and artisanship of the skilled technicians that made these pieces.

  • 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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1134

A very fine and rare yellow gold minute repeating openface split-seconds chronograph watch with Breguet numerals and retailed by J. H. Leyson, Butte Montana

1900
47mm Diameter
Case, cuvette, movement and dial signed by maker, cuvette and movement signed by retailer

Estimate
HK$95,000 - 160,000 
€10,700-18,000
$12,200-20,500

Sold for HK$250,000

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
thomasperazzi@phillips.com
+852 2318 2001

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: EIGHT

Hong Kong Auction 28 May 2019