Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1948 Reference No: 565 Movement No: 961'865 Case No: 639'956 Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 12-120''', 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Dimensions: 35mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, and strap signed. Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1948 and its subsequent sale on July 5th, 1948.
Catalogue Essay
The reference 565 is one of the most classic gentleman wristwatches of the 20th century. Released in 1938, the model featured innovative and enduring qualities that today make it a collector’s favorite. These include the two piece Taubert case with screw down back, an inner soft iron case to protect the movement from the adverse effects of magnetic fields, and a more generous case diameter, compared to the smaller reference 96, which was first released in 1932.
The brand continued to manufacture the model until 1952, and in an era when yellow gold timepieces were de rigueur, fewer examples were produced in pink gold and rarely in stainless steel. Designed for a public with a growing interest in outdoor activities, the reference 565 was waterproof with its screw-down caseback.
Offered with subsidiary seconds or less frequently, with center seconds, the caliber was upgraded over the reference’s production period. First series examples of the reference housed the caliber 12’’’120, while a Victorin Piguet indirect center seconds movement 12-120 SC was introduced in 1939, and in 1950 a second series was released with either the caliber 12’’’400 or the new caliber 27 SC.
A myriad of dial designs complemented the reference 565 across the span of its production, and the present watch bears one of the rarest, with long Patek Philippe signature, Arabic numerals at 12, 9, and 3, and engraved hard enamel baton indexes. Only five examples are known in this configuration.
Acquired by the present owner, an important American collector, at auction in 2007, the watch has remained in the same collection for the past fifteen years, unaltered and hardly worn. It was treated to a service in anticipation of its sale at auction in 2007, where it achieved a most impressive price of 90,000 GBP.
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.