Phillips is honored to offer this wonderful, open-face pocket chronometer owned by Henry Graves Jr. Widely considered one of the 20th century’s most important watch collectors, he is best remembered in the 21st century for his legendary competition with automobile entrepreneur James Ward Packard, to commission some of the most complicated timepieces ever produced. Graves would end up the ultimate victor, having commissioned the “Mona Lisa” of timepieces as described by Stacy Perman, author of “A Grand Complication”, the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication. Delivered in 1933, with 24 complications and requiring over 8 years of development, it was the most complicated timepiece ever made, holding that distinction for over half a century.
Graves was born in 1868 to a prominent New York City family known for their banking and financial interests spanning railroads and cement – and dynastic wealth. Following in his father’s footsteps, he became an accomplished collector establishing himself as one of the most discerning and influential connoisseurs across genres. Today, Graves is recognized for his keen eye for quality and for sparing no expense to acquire some of the most exquisite timepieces ever made by brands such as Patek Philippe, Jules Jurgensen, and Vacheron Constantin.
Before Graves’ pursuit of ultimate complications, he sought the highest performing, most accurate timepieces produced by the finest watchmaking brands. Always choosing 18 karat gold or platinum, he specifically requested from brands such as Patek Philippe, the #1 rated movements from annual chronometry competitions held at the Swiss Observatories – each hand-built and hand-adjusted by the brands’ best watchmakers. Equivalent to Formula 1 race cars, these “observatory chronometers” were a nod to Graves’ own pursuit of perfection and excellence. Before delivery to Graves, their cases would be engraved with his family motto, “Esse Quam Videri” - To Be Rather Than to Seem.
The present lot is certainly one such example. Fitted with an extremely fine movement equipped with a Guillaume balance and designated “Extra Special” on its bridge, the accompanying “Extract from the Archives” confirms the watch was issued a Geneva Observatory rating in September 1920.
According to research, the present lot was delivered to Bailey, Banks and Biddle on October 14th, 1921, and similar to other known Graves watches, it is engraved with the recognisable family crest and motto “Esse Quam Videri”. The watch first appeared at auction in December 2010 where it was also featured on the catalog’s cover, offered by the then owner who acquired the watch from the estate of Marilyn Prescott Graves (1932-1998), the granddaughter of Henry Graves Jr. She was the daughter of Duncan Preston Graves (1900-1977) and his sole heir.
Consigned by the winning bidder in that 2010 auction, it has remained unused for the past 14 years and offered in the exact state of preservation as when it last appeared. The case, with hidden hinge, is very well preserved and has no signs of needless polishing with the family coat of arms remaining extremely crisp. Its enamel dial is utterly superb, a gorgeous cream color with black Breguet numerals, it features an up/down indicator at 12 o’clock typical of shipboard chronometers of the era, and is in flawless condition. Patek Philippe pocket chronometers with up and down indication are very rare in the marketplace – and even fewer are known to have been cased in yellow gold versus silver cases most often seen.
Henry Graves Jr had a passion of horology both as a collector and was deeply involved in the design and customization of his timepieces, often working closely with watchmakers to create bespoke pieces that reflected his unique tastes and preferences.
Whilst the exact number of Packard and Graves-commissioned timepieces aren’t known, approximately 30 have appeared on the market to-date. Accordingly, any time a Packard or Graves-owned timepiece is offered, the collecting world takes notice. These timepieces, including the present lot, are, without any doubt, the apex of fine watchmaking of the 20th century – the very best watches, made by the best brands for the world’s greatest collectors.
