Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1925 Movement No: 197’995 Case No: 412’553 Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual, lever movement, 40 jewels Dimensions: 47mm Diameter Signed: Case, cuvette, dial and movement signed; case, cuvette and movement numbered. Accessories: Accompanied by original Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin and bill of sale for $1,175, and outer envelope. Further accompanied by Extract from the Archives confirming its sale on March 2nd, 1933.
Catalogue Essay
The present open face pocket watch is a lovely example of a transitional period in horology when the fashionable pocket watch began giving way to the wristwatch. Cultural changes following World War I lead to the prominence of the wristwatch as a growing number of people began wear them. The split-seconds mechanism, which allowed for the simultaneous timing of two events like horse and automobile racing, is relatively rare with fewer than 200 known pocket watch examples by Patek Philippe.
This example goes a significant step further, featuring a superb minute repeater mechanism. Chiming the exact time by repeating the hours, quarters, and minutes on two gongs, it has a loud, harmonious, and rich tone. Employing an uncommon vertically oriented, two register layout, the stunning dial features beautiful, applied gold Breguet numerals. The desirability of the timepiece is further enhanced by the inclusion of its original Certificate of Origin and bill of sale from 1933.
These early 20th century horological gems showcase the exceptional skill and craftsmanship, as well as the consistent historical excellence, that makes Patek Philippe watches so sought after in the modern era.
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.
A very fine and attractive yellow gold openface minute repeating split-seconds chronograph pocket watch with original Certificate of Origin and bill of sale
1925 47mm Diameter Case, cuvette, dial and movement signed; case, cuvette and movement numbered.
