Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1912 Movement No: 170’341 Case No: 282’796, cuvette engraved “Awarded Honourable Mention Geneva Astronomical Observatory Timing Contest 1915-1916” Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual, lever “Extra” movement, 21 jewels Dimensions: 50mm Diameter Signed: Case, cuvette, dial and movement signed; case, cuvette, and movement numbered. Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming manufacture in 1912 and its subsequent sale on October 8th, 1917, with the remark "the timepiece was awarded an honorable mention in Geneva Observatory timing contest in 1915."
Catalogue Essay
The present openface pocket watch is a shining example of early 20th-century horology and the innovative technical skills demonstrated by the famed brand Patek Philippe. At first glance one may see a time only watch, however the movement is marked “Extra” a designation applied only to watches that have undergone even more rigorous testing, refinement, or enhancement beyond the brand’s already high standards. Upon close inspection of the escapement, one notes the use of a Guillaume balance wheel with blued steel hairspring – the state-of-the-art at the time, used for the finest watches where precision timekeeping was of utmost importance.
Charles-Édouard Guillaume won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1920, making significant contributions horology with his work on various nickel-steel alloys such as Invar and Elinvar. Guillaume balances with bimetallic rims made of Invar and brass, when used with blued steel hairsprings, are remarkably stable across a range of temperatures.
The present watch from circa 1915 is a wonderful example of the commitment to precision and accuracy in fine Swiss watchmaking. The engraving on the movement indicates the watch was retailed by Wm. Senter & Co., a watchmaking firm located in Portland, Maine. William Senter (1850-c. 1926) apprenticed first to his uncle in 1870, also William Senter (1813-1888), and after his uncle's death in 1888, carried on their family business. As engraved on the cuvette, the “Extra”-grade movement was awarded “Awarded Honourable Mention Geneva Astronomical Observatory Timing Contest 1915-1916”. With a flawless enamel dial, it is offered in wonderful overall condition.
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.
