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The Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication PATEK PHILIPPE & Co., Geneva
A gold, double dialled and double open-faced, minute repeating clockwatch with Westminster chimes, grande and petite sonnerie, split seconds chronograph, registers for 60-minutes and 12-hours, perpetual calendar accurate to the year 2100, moon-phases, equation of time, dual power reserve for striking and going trains, mean and sidereal time, central alarm, indications for times of sunrise/sunset and a celestial chart for the night time sky of New York City at 40 degrees 41.0 minutes North latitude Accompanied by the original fitted tulipwood box inlaid with ebony and centered by a mother-of-pearl panel engraved with the arms of Henry Graves, Jr. Also accompanied by the Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin and an Extract from the Archives of Patek Philippe. In the course of Patek Philippe's 175 years as a master watchmaker, an anniversary which the firm celebrates this yea, many extraordinary watches have been created that have challenged the way we think about timepieces. It is an honour to offer the Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication in this important anniversary year of Patek Philippe, Geneva. Amongst the most complicated and significant timepieces ever created, the Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication redefined the possibilities of watchmaking and changed horology forever. With 24 complications, it remained the world's most complicated watch until Patek Philippe created the Calibre 89 in 1989 for its 150th anniversary. However, the Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication retains the title of the most complicated watch ever made without computer-assisted technology. We are grateful to Eric Tortella for his assistance in researching the Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication. LOT 345 PATEK PHILIPPE THE HENRY GRAVES JR. SUPERCOMPLICAITON PATEK PHILIPPE & Co., Geneva, No. 198.385, Case No. 416.769, started in 1925, completed in 1932 and delivered on 19th January 1933 diameter 74mm; thickness of case with glass 36 mm; weight of case 536 grammes (approx. 1 lb. 3oz) A gold, double dialled and double open-faced, minute repeating clockwatch with Westminster chimes, grande and petite sonnerie, split seconds chronograph, registers for 60-minutes and 12-hours, perpetual calendar accurate to the year 2100, moon-phases, equation of time, dual power reserve for striking and going trains, mean and sidereal time, central alarm, indications for times of sunrise/sunset and a celestial chart for the night time sky of New York City at 40 degrees 41.0 minutes North latitude Accompanied by the original fitted tulipwood box inlaid with ebony and centered by a mother-of-pearl panel engraved with the arms of Henry Graves, Jr. Also accompanied by the Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin and an Extract from the Archives of Patek Philippe. The Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication movement is unique. Patek Philippe ensured that each complication was designed specifically for this watch. Complex watch movements usually consisted of complications that were added to a simpler base calibre, however, the Supercomplication's calibre was developed specifically for this single watch. The Supercomplication required the expertise of some of the finest watchmakers of the period, each skilled in the execution of particular components. These master makers had to work together to ensure that all complications within the watch were seamlessly combined with one another and presented in a case and with a dial of the finest design. After all, this watch was no mere flight of fancy; it was a special order and had to please its patron. This unique collaboration resulted in a watch that was not only the most complex in the world, but was also a timepiece of exceptional aesthetic beauty. Please see fig. 6 for the list of the Supercomplication's 24 complications. HENRY GRAVES, JR. Henry Graves, Jr. (1868-1953) was more than just a modern man at the beginning of the 20th century; he was an innovator. Born into a prominent banking family in Orange, NJ, his father, Henry Graves, Sr., was a partner in the banking firm of Maxwell & Graves located at 143 Liberty Street, New York City. Henry Graves, Jr. joined his father in the financial industry and moved to New York City. In 1896, Mr. Graves married Florence Isabel Preston of Irvington-on-Hudson, New York and they had four children. As a wealthy society family at the turn of the century, Mr. and Mrs. Graves had the luxury of owning several vacation homes in addition to their residence in New York City. The family spent their summers at their homes in Irvington and Saranac, New York. In Saranac, the Graves owned Eagle Island, where Mr. Graves reveled in one of his sporting passions: boating. One of his treasured boats was the Eagle, a 50-foot speedboat. During the winter, the family spent time near Charleston, South Carolina where Mr. Graves was a member of the prestigious Yeaman's Hall, an old plantation-turned-private club. The remainder of the year, the family lived at 420 Park Avenue in New York City, until the family moved to 834 Fifth Avenue in 1931. Mr. Graves would remain at his Fifth Avenue apartment until his death at the age of 86. Mr. Graves had a well-known appreciation for the arts. On 3rd April 1936, a single-owner sale was held at the American Art Association Anderson, Galleries, Inc., a predecessor of Sotheby's in New York. The sale was titled "Masterpieces of Engraving and Etching: The Collection of Henry Graves, Jr." The introduction of the catalogue states: "The possibilities of collecting are revealed at their finest in the majority of the magnificent prints gathered by Mr. Graves. No other collection so rich in beauty, so carefully chosen, and in such splendid condition has ever been offered at public sale in this country." The highlight of the sale was Albrecht Dürer's Adam and Eve, which brought an impressive $10,000. This price was truly remarkable at the time, given that the sale occurred in the midst of the Great Depression. In addition to Mr. Graves' passion for fine art, he is remembered for his superb Patek Philippe collection of timepieces. Mr. Graves was introduced to the firm by his family jeweler, Tiffany & Co., and was impressed by Patek Philippe's success in various timing contests at the Geneva Observatory. Mr. Graves began acquiring Patek Philippe timepieces in the 1910s, ultimately becoming one of the firm's most notable patrons. Mr. Graves would either commission watches from the firm or would ask Patek Philippe to personalize timepieces he acquired with his family's coat-of-ams. The Graves coat-of-arms bears an eagle rising out of a ducal coronet, along with the motto: Esse Quam Videri (To Be, Rather than to Seem). The majority of Mr. Graves' watches are distinguished by the use of this Coat-of-Arms on the case or, as with the Supercomplication, on the watch's box. Many of his pocket watches were further personalised: "Made for Henry Graves, Jr. New York." In line with his own competitive spirit, Mr. Graves commissioned Patek Philippe to make him the most complicated watch – more complicated than James Ward Packard's Patek Philippe with sky chart no. 198.023, the Leroy No. 1 and the "Marie Antoinette" by Breguet. Mr. Graves became the very proud owner of the Supercomplication on 19th January 1933 for the sum of 60,000 SF ($15,000). Weighing approximately 535g (1 lb. 3 ounces), the watch consists of 920 individual components including 430 screws, 110 wheels, 120 mechanical levers or parts and 70 jewels. The Supercomplication remained in Mr. Graves' collection of timepieces until his death in 1953. His daughter, Gwendolen, inherited the Supercomplication and much of the collection and later gifted it onto her son, Reginald H. "Pete" Fullerton, Jr., in 1960. Mr. Fullerton, Henry Graves, Jr.'s grandson, was the last descendant of the Graves family to own the Supercomplication until its sale to Seth G. Atwood, founder of the Time Museum, in 1969. THE CONTEST One of the few, very few, minor regrets that I may have had during the 36 exhilarating years of my association with Patek Philippe, Geneva, is that I was not around during an era which, today, is considered as being the vintage years for a number of timepieces produced by the Manufactory, namely: between 1900 and 1935. During that era, two men in the U.S.A., vied with one another to order and acquire exceptional watches, either for their time-keeping qualities or their complex mechanisms. Interestingly enough, both chose Patek Philippe as their principal source of supply. Thus started a fascinating 'contest' between two gentlemen . . . who were nevertheless rivals in the field of horology. The first, Henry Graves, Jr. of New York, was essentially a sportsman and collector; but fortuitously born into a private banking family. The second was James Ward Packard of Warren, Ohio, the automobile manufacturer. First one, then the other of these two gentlemen would order from Patek Philippe in Geneva, timepieces with multiple horological complications. By 1916, Mr. Packard had edged in front of Mr. Graves in his bid to own the finest and most complex watch in the world. Indeed, in January of that year he took delivery of an impressive pocket-watch made by Patek Philippe and which incorporated 16 horological complications. Again, in April 1927 a further stunning pocket-watch with ten complications, including a celestial-chart, was delivered to Mr. Packard by Patek Philippe. However, neither piece could claim to be the most complicated watch ever made. For Mr. Graves, ever the sportsman and competitor, the challenge was irresistible. Unhesitatingly, he returned to the 'contest' with renewed determination. In strictest secrecy he once more approached Patek Philippe in Geneva with a monumental request, namely: to plan and construct "the most complicated watch ever made" The master-watchmakers at Patek Philippe, undaunted, returned to their respective ateliers and drawing-boards to ponder this new, exciting challenge. Obviously, computer assistance in the construction of complex horological mechanisms did not exist in those days. Exhaustive studies in the realms of astronomy, mathematics and precision mechanisms were necessary to achieve what then became the "world's most complicated timepiece" incorporating 25 horological complications. The Supercomplication retained that title for an impressively long time: 56 years in total. By modern-day standards, the end result was achieved astonishingly quickly. Indeed, 'only' seven years were necessary, between 1925-1932, to research, develop and produce the chef-d'oeuvre ordered by Mr. Graves from Patek Philippe. The watch was delivered to Mr. Graves on 19th January 1933. Then, in 1989, to mark Patek Philippe's 150th anniversary, they unveiled the Calibre 89 which incorporates 33 complications. Thus, the "Graves" watch lost its title…but to a worthy successor. For those who may have the privilege of actually handling this famous and extraordinary timepiece will, I am sure, experience an indefinable sensation. I certainly did! Alan Banbery Former Curator of the Patek Philippe Museum Geneva, October 2014 THE SIDEREAL DIAL The sidereal time dial was made between 1929 and 1932 from a gold plate with silvered finish. The three subsidiary dials for sunrise, sunset, and subsidiary sidereal seconds were recessed by circular engraving. The plate was then engraved and enamelled. Above the subsidiary sidereal seconds, the equation of time sector indicates the difference between the minutes of mean time and sidereal time. The sky chart is also made from a gold disc and is overlaid with champlevé blue enamel. The archives of Stern Frères show that Patek Philippe supplied the gold for the dial and paid 110 Francs for its construction. The Stern Frères archives still retain a copy of the original drawings for the dial which were submitted to Henry Graves, Jr. for his approval. The drawings appear in what is known as Stern Frères special design book. Dial details: Gold dial plate with silvered finish, black enamel Arabic dauphine numerals, outer minute track, large aperture revealing the sky chart surrounded with the cardinal points, the sky chart composed of a champlevé blue enamel over gold stars à paillons depicting approximately 450 stars and a magnificent representation of the Milky Way, the whole of the night sky for the exact longitude of Mr. Graves' Manhattan apartment overlooking Central Park on Fifth Avenue, three sunken subsidiary dials for times of sunrise and sunset in New York, and seconds combined with equation of time scale, 'pear' shaped blued steel hands, the dial plate engraved and enamelled and with large personal inscription reading "Made for Henry Graves Jr, New York 1932 by Patek, Philippe & Co. Geneva, Switzerland." THE MEAN TIME DIAL The mean time dial was made by Stern Frères S.A. between 1929 and 1930 and is white enamel. The perfect aesthetics of the dial mask the extreme complexity of its construction. The dial has to accommodate seven layers of hands - the two split seconds hands, hour hand, minute hand, alarm hand, and double hands within either power reserve subsidiaries - all of which have to seamlessly glide above one another. In order to accommodate the unprecedented number of hands, the subsidiary dials are double sunk, and each are made from two separate enamel sections with their relevant calibrations. This allows extra depth to the dial, keeping the overall height between crystal and dial surface to a minimum and thereby minimizing the overall depth of the watch. Dial details: White enamel dial, black enamel radial Roman numerals chiffres Romaines regardants, style Genève, outer track for minutes and chronograph seconds indication for fifths of a second, double-sunk subsidiary dials for 60-minute and 12-hour registers combined with power reserves for striking and going trains respectively, further double-sunk subsidiary dial for subsidiary seconds and date, apertures for day, month and moon-phases, Breguet hour and minute hands, the subsidiary dials with feuille shaped hands, gold alarm indicator hand, all other hands blued steel. THE MOVEMENT TIER 1 The movement's core tier is double sided. Each side of the ocre accomodates an additional tier, thereby making a total of three tiers. The movement: 25''' damascened, two train, multi-layered plates with 70 jewels, signed and numbered on the movement band. Tier 1 Main plate with lever escapement, three first wheels of 14k gold, bi-metallic compensation balance, with gold regulating screws, adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and five positions, unique balance regulator with aperture enabling regulation concealed under bezel, striking mechanism with two barrels, Westminster-type carillon, grande and petite sonnerie, with four hammer's striking four gongs, mean time train, power reserves for movement and strike, both chronograph mechanisms visible to back-hyphen plate of central tier. The chronograph is executed in a classic manner, however this complication utilizes a 12-hour register which is rarely seen on Patek Philippe watches. It is also notable that the chronograph function has a 60-minute register which is considerably more complex to integrate than the more standard 30-minute register. The grande sonnerie includes four hammers that strike four gongs to sound the passing hours and Westminster quarter hours, the petite sonnerie when activated merely strikes the passing Westminster quarter hours. The alarm employs a fifth hammer and a fifth gong to ring the alarm. Tier 2 - Under Mean Time Dial Plate with alarm, spring and lever layout for time and alarm triple-setting system, calendar, and moon-phases. The perpetual calendar is unusually displayed with the day of the week and month of the year both shown in rectangular windows. Tier 3 - Under Sidereal Time Dial Sidereal time train, sky chart mechanism, cams for equation of time, sunrise and sunset. The Sidereal Time train is constructed with three main wheels and makes one full revolution every sidereal day. The Supercomplication provides the complete sidereal time with hours, minutes and seconds indicated. This is the most accurate manner to display Sidereal time but also the most complex. The Sky Chart mechanism comprises the display plate itself with three wheels and one gear, all connected to the sidereal time and adjustable through the crown's hand setting function. THE CASE The case of the Supercomplication was made by Luc Rochat of L'Abbaye in the Vallée de Joux. The case is 73.2mm in diameter, 35mm thick including the crystals and weighs 535g (1 lb, 3 oz). The case by itself weighs an impressive 250g. The double open-faced case is of classic bassine design. Both bezels are impressively thick to accommodate the depth of the dials and their hands. Each bezel has a concealed hinge, which represents the highest quality of such design. Despite the watch's impressive size, it is exceptionally well proportioned; this is a testament to the careful planning and extraordinary collaboration between the master watchmakers, dial makers, and case maker who, between them, ensured that every cubic millimeter of space was used with the greatest efficiency. Almost five years were required from the design of the case to its final delivery, during which time hundreds of adjustments were made to ensure every function allowed by the slides and pushers was precise and smooth. The case incorporates 13 operational functions. Facing the watch from the mean time side and running around the case in a clockwise direction from the crown these are: 1. winding device, turning to one side for the main barrel and to the other side for the chime 2. pulling the crown, first position for the mean time, second position for the sidereal time setting 3. chronograph main start/stop coaxial device 4. moon-phase adjuster 5. alarm winding sliding device 6. petite/grande sonnerie selection slide 7. minute repeat trigger slide 8. adjuster for months of the year 9. adjuster for days of the week 10. adjuster for date of the month 11. the strike/silent option, selected via a slide 12. the split device pusher 13. pusher to engage hand-setting when crown is pulled out SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR FUNCTIONS Perpetual Calendar with Moon-Phases The perpetual calendar shows the correct day of the week, date of the month and month of the year regardless of the length of the month. It also automatically adjusts for the leap year. The aperture for moon-phases shows the correct phase and age of the moon. Since the duration of the Solar year is 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 48 seconds and the mean year is 365 days, an extra year is added every four years (leap year) and a further adjustment is made with the omission of a leap year every four centuries. According to the Gregorian calendar reforms of 1582, century years that are divisible by 400 without remainder are to be considered leap years. Consequently, the perpetual calendar of the Supercomplication will be accurate until the year 2100, when the calendar will need to be readjusted for the first time. The Westminster Chimes, Repeater and Alarm Grande Sonnerie with Westminster chimes. Selected via a slide on the case band, this function strikes the hours and quarters at every quarter. The five gongs hammer for the carillon are separate from the alarm. Petite Sonnerie selected via the slide on the case band, this function strikes the passing quarter hours. Minute Repeater Selected on demand via the case band, the watch strikes the passing quarter hours and minutes. The Westminster chime, made famous by the Westminster London clock popularly known as 'Big Ben,' was first used in St. Mary's Church, Cambridge in 1793. The chime tune itself was taken from the fifth bar of Handel's aria from the Messiah, "I know that my Redeemer liveth." Split Seconds chronograph The split seconds chronograph can be used to time up to two events at the same time. The chronograph is started, stopped and reset via the pusher at the center of the winding crown. When the chronograph is running, the split pusher which is located in the case band between 10 and 11 o'clock (when looking at the mean time dial) can be pressed to stop one of the central chronograph seconds hands, leaving the other to continue alone. Whilst the chronograph is running, minutes elapsed will be counted on the subsidiary dial to the right and hours to the left on the mean time dial. Sidereal Time and Equation of Time The Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication has hours, minutes and seconds of sidereal time, the time of sunrise and sunset (calibrated for New York City) and the equation of time. This sidereal complication requires a transmission ratio of exactly 1.0027379092, which is driven by a 62 tooth wheel on the arbor of the fourth wheel. Sidereal time is based on the amount of time it takes the Earth to make two consecutive transitions of a meridian by a fixed star. By measuring the transits of a fixed star, one is able to measure the actual time it takes for the Earth to turn on its axis. This period of time is known as a sidereal day which is approximately 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4.1 seconds. The equation of time indicator on the Supercomplication watch is calibrated to show the difference between apparent solar time (the time as indicated by a sundial) and mean time (the average of solar time). Since the Earth is in an elliptical orbit, the difference between mean and solar time ranges from plus 14 minutes 59 seconds to minus 16 minutes 15 seconds. Solar time agrees with mean time on or about 15th April, 15th June, 31st August, and 24th December. The Supercomplication watch indicates the equation of time on a sector-shaped scale with calibrations for plus/minus 17 minutes. The equation of time mechanism is driven by an arbor that protrudes through the movement from the calendar mechanism. The spelling 'sideral' on the dial of the watch is the French form of the word; the English spelling being 'sidereal.' The Star Chart The Supercomplication's star chart rotates anti-clockwise behind the oval aperture of the dial. The shape of the aperture allows one to see the night sky as seen from New York City, complete with magnitudes of the stars and the Milky Way. PROVENANCE & TIMELINE Provenance Henry Graves, Jr., New York, January 1933 Gwendolen Graves Fullerton, by descent from the above, New York, 1953 Reginald H. "Pete" Fullerton, by gift from the above, New York, 1960 Time Museum, Rockford, Illinois, Inventory no. 4443, 1969 Sotheby's, New York, Masterpieces from the Time Museum, 2 December 1999, lot 7 Private Collection Exhibited Rockford, Illinois, The Time Museum, 1970-1999 Geneva, The Patek Philippe Museum, 2001-2005 Literature "The Summum of complication," Journal Suisse d'Horologie, December 1932, pp. 36-37. "Watches: These are the Best Built in the World," Life Magazine, 23 December 1940, p. 31. "The World's Most Complicated Watch," Patek Philippe Newsletter, May 1960, pp. 2-3. Eugene Jaquet and Alfred Chapuis, Technique and History of the Swiss Watch, New York, 1970, pl. 122-123. Cecil Clutton and George Daniels, Watches, London, 1979 (3rd ed.), pl. 377a-e. Rheinhard Meis, Taschenuhren: Von d. Halsuhr zum Tourbillon, Munich, 1979, pl. 848-850. Seth G. Atwood and William Andrews, The Time Museum an Introduction, Rockford, 1983, p. 30. Martin Huber and Alan Banbery, Patek Philippe, Geneva, 1983 (vol. 1, 1st ed.), pp. 250-257, pls. 232a-h. Martin Huber and Alan Banbery, Patek Philippe, Geneva, 1993, (vol. 1, 2nd ed.), pp. 88-91, pls. 237-239h. David S. Landes, Revolution in Time: Clocks and the Making of the Modern World, Boston, 1983, pp. 448-449. Patek Philippe S.A., Star Calibre 2000, Geneva, 2000, pp. 20-21. Arthur Lubow, "Complicated Collectors," Patek Philippe Museum, Geneva, Autumn/Winter 2002, pp. 36-41. Stacy Perman, A Grand Complication: The Race to Build the World's Most Legendary Watch, New York, 2013. Timeline Please see fig. 9 for the timeline of The Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication. Acknowledgements We are grateful to the following individuals for their guidance and assistance with the creation of this catalogue: Patricia Atwood, Alan Banbery, Alex Barter, Sylvie Dricourt, Peter Friess, Stacy Perman, Martin H. Wehrli, Béatrice Widemann, and of course, Patek Philippe.
An iconic, highly attractive, and historically important stainless
Rolex When an original Rolex "Paul Newman" Daytona is offered for sale, collectors take notice. To own one is a dream for so many. This absolutely fresh to the market watch is the "Paul Newman" Daytona after which all others came second. Likely purchased in 1968, Joanne Woodward chose this reference 6239 fitted with an 'exotic' dial, as a gift for Paul Newman as his passion for motorsport was just beginning. Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Newman was seen wearing several generations of Daytona models. This is the first and only 'exotic' dial Daytona he wore, making it the ultimate Rolex Daytona wristwatch. This wristwatch has been worn by Paul Newman lovingly over the years, but also well preserved by the consignor, James Cox. The case retains its original proportions, lines, and edges, and in our view, has never been polished. The wonderful, "DRIVE CAREFULLY ME" engraving on the case back is perfectly crisp and completely intact.Likely to have been originally purchased at Tiffany & Co. in New York, an inventory number possibly engraved by the luxury retailer is found on the underside of the left lug. The dial has developed a creamy, warm patina that is consistent with its age. The luminous hour markers have also aged charismatically along with the luminous hands – all completely original and intact. It comes accompanied with a signed letter written by Paul Newman's daughter, Nell Newman, documenting its provenance and her support of its sale. The Daytona is a model that will forever be associated with Paul Newman, made famous by him thanks to this very timepiece. The present lot therefore presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own one of the most mythical, most important, and most recognizable watches of the 20th century. It's now being sold for the first time since leaving the inner circle of the Newman family, nearly 50 years after its purchase by Joanne Woodward. We are thrilled to offer it here, with a portion of the proceeds going to The Nell Newman Foundation and Newman's Own Foundation, in support of Paul Newman's philanthropic values. Its impeccable provenance, incredible "DRIVE CAREFULLY ME" engraving from Joanne Woodward, and wonderful original condition make Paul Newman's "Paul Newman" Daytona one of the world's most precious – and most priceless – timepieces. Ever.
An extremely rare, highly attractive and historically important stainless steel perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases
Patek Philippe An extremely rare, highly attractive and historically important stainless steel perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, applied arabic hour markers, tachymeter scale and bracelet 1943 35mm. Diameter Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
PATEK PHILIPPE & Co., Geneva, Reference 989, Movement No. 844000
A yellow gold, double dialled and double open faced, minute repeating, grande and petite sonnerie clockwatch with Westminster chimes, split seconds chronograph, registers for 60-minutes and 12-hours, perpetual calendar, retrograde date, indications for century, leap year cycle, seasons, second time zone, date of Easter, astrological indications, moon phases, equation of time, dual power reserve for striking and going trains, mean and sidereal time, alarm, temperature, indications for times of sunrise/sunset and a celestial chart for the night time sky over Geneva, Switzerland at 46° 11 59 minutes north latitudeAccompanied by the original Patek Philippe fitted wood box with a plaque engraved, Calibre 89. Together with a Patek Philippe Portfolio with Extract from the Archives confirming the date of manufacture in 1989, with outer presentation slip case, gold corrector and gold key. IN THE COURSE OF PATEK PHILIPPES DISTINGUISHED HISTORY, THE FIRM HAS CREATED MANY EXTRAORDINARY WATCHES THAT HAVE CHALLENGED THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT TIMEPIECES. AMONGST THE MANY COMPLICATED AND SIGNIFICANT TIMEPIECES EVER CREATED, THE CALIBRE 89 HAS REDEFINED THE FIELD OF HOROLOGY DUE TO THE INGENUITY OF ITS CREATORS. IT IS AN HONOUR TO OFFER THE CALIBRE 89, THE MOST COMPLICATED WATCH OF THE 20TH CENTURY, AND PATEK PHILIPPES MOST COMPLICATED MASTERPIECE TO DATE. Philippe Stern: A Declaration of Independence Throughout its 178 years as a master watchmaking firm, Patek Philippe has created an abundance of extraordinary watches, challenging the way consumers think about timepieces. Among the most complicated and significant watches ever created, the Calibre 89 not only represents Patek Philippes unrivaled position at the apex of horology, but it also illustrates the firms unwavering belief in the superiority of the mechanical watch. Made at a time when the impact of the quartz crisis was still reverberating through the Swiss watch industry, the Calibre 89 is an affirmation of the unsurpassable genius of the watchmakers art. With 33 complications, the Calibre 89 remains Patek Philippes most complicated watch. While the Swiss watch industry underwent profound advances and changes, Honorary President, (then Vice President and Managing Director) Philippe Stern, boldly faced the challenges of the modern world with a new manifesto. Under Stern, the company published a brochure titled A Declaration of Independence in 1974. Patek Philippe reaffirmed its integrity as a family-owned business and reassured its retail partners of its commitment to excellence in the face of the mass-produced and easily accessible quartz watch. Sterns challenge was to push Patek Philippe into the modern world while retaining the venerable culture on which its success and reputation originated. The companys new approach to marketing and innovation redefined Patek Philippe in the final two decades of the twentieth century. Changes in socioeconomic status and consumer culture paved the way for a new type of consumer with very high spending power but little knowledge of traditional and bespoke brands such as Patek Philippe. Stern wisely targeted this deficit through an aggressive and cohesive marketing strategy. Our marketing objective is to make Patek Philippe known as the best watch. We have to look after this new clientele and point out to them that Patek Philippe stands for original watchmaking that is above fashion and trends, and also something that is not an industrial product. (Philippe Stern in Nicholas Foulkes, Patek Philippe: The Authorized Biography, 2016, p. 338) The Calibre 89 was devised during a discussion between Philippe Stern and Patek Philippes Technical Director, Max Studer. Under the new and dynamic marketing model of Stern, the team sought to find an appropriate and momentous way to celebrate their 150th Jubilee anniversary. Conceived ten years ahead of the anniversary, the initial idea of the watch was to reproduce the Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication, which had then represented the absolute limit in horological possibility. Instead, Max Studer proposed the creation of an even more complex and complicated timepiece. Stern thus commissioned the making of the worlds most complicated watch to represent Patek Philippes unique and unmatched horological prowess. The Calibre 89 maintained the ateliers traditions and history, while the research and development required to complete it in turn helped keep Patek Philippe at the forefront of watchmaking. This open-faced astronomical and astrological watch with two dials comprises 1,728 components in total. Preliminary calculations and designs began in 1980, followed by five years of research and four years of production with the collaboration of a small group of Patek Philippe experts. The team included engineers Jean-Pierre Musy and François Devaud, watchmaker Paul Buclin and designer Frédérique Zesiger. With a working prototype ready in July 1988, the yellow gold Calibre 89 (movement No. 844000) was completed in April 1989. The company then manufactured three additional pieces, one each in pink gold, white gold, and platinum, for which a further nine years were required to complete production. The prototype currently resides in the permanent collection of the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, Switzerland. Innovations in Technology The discreet and acutely sensitive task of watchmaking had never before been mechanized by computer assisted technology. In fact, master watchmakers operated without the use of reference images or blueprints, relying solely from memory; an astounding feat. The development of the Calibre 89 was assisted firstly by Patek Philippes director, Alan Banbery, who was able to obtain photographic details of the Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication for research, development, and inspiration. Secondly, the making of this watch introduced the unprecedented use of computer-aided design (CAD). Introduced and mechanized by automotive and architectural industries, CAD programs enhanced manual drafting with a swift automated process. The technology became integral in producing a higher level of precision components for the enormous movement. CAD-produced calculations guided tool-making mechanisms to create highly specialized parts to be cut without error at smaller scales than ever before. Headed by master draftsman and designer, Frédérique Zesiger, thousands of technical drawings and schematics were transferred to CAD. The program calculated various components such as the precise distance between indentations in the steel notched snail-cam in the repeating mechanism. The team made several changes to the design of the Calibre 89 throughout the years, including the later addition of the tourbillon escapement and multi-functioning crown. As they made these adjustments, CAD simplified the process by generating new blueprints and components. CAD has advanced the field of horology and allowed makers to continually innovate and expand on masterpieces from the past. Surpassing the Supercomplication The Calibre 89 surpasses the Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication with nine additional complications. Tourbillon: It was not until two and a half years into production that the makers decided to include a tourbillon escapement in the Calibre 89. Alterations for the mechanism of the split-seconds chronograph were made in order to include the tourbillon in the final design. The tourbillon patented by Abraham Louis Breguet in 1801 compensates for the effects of gravity on the balance wheel. By mounting the balance-wheel and escapement mechanism in a revolving cage, positional errors due to gravity are averaged out. While the tourbillon regulator traditionally is part of the fourthwheel of the main drive train, due to the complexity of the Calibre 89, the fourth-wheel engages the toothed rim of the tourbillons cage. The tourbillon also revolves once every two minutes, rather than the usual one revolution per minute. Sun Hand: The gold hand capped by the sun on the Sidereal dial makes one rotation around the dial annually, and indicates the zodiac, seasons, the solstice and the equinox, located in the outer, middle and innermost ring respectively. The mechanism for the sun hand also corresponds to the Equation of Time, the hours of sunrise and sunset and the Date of Easter. Date of Easter: All of the possible dates of Easter, which range from March 22nd to April 25th, appear in an arc on the sidereal dial. Easter is the only Christian lunar holiday, thus it has a different date every year. The cam in the Calibre 89 can accurately give the date of Easter for 29 years, starting in 1989. After 2017, the cam needs to be replaced for the next 29 years. When the watch records change of the year, a blue-steel hand shifts to point to the date of Easter for the indicated year. A mechanism to indicate the date of Easter had never been done before, and Patek patented the design under patent number 649673 on December 13, 1985. Second Time Zone: A gold hand on the mean solar time dial indicates the hours of a second time zone. By pressing the push-piece at 11 oclock, the user can advance this independent hours hand in increments of one hour. This allows the user to adjust this watch in different time-zones without advancing the minutes hand. Secular Calendar and Leap Year: The Perpetual Calendar shows the correct day of the week, date of the month and month of the year regardless of the length of the month, it also adjusts for the leap year. Since the duration of a Solar year is 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds, an extra day is added every four years (leap year). According to the Gregorian Calendar reforms of 1582, only century years that are divisible by 400 without remainder are considered leap years. Unlike the Graves, the Calibre 89 compensates for this, thus it will not count the years 2100, 2200 and 2300 as leap years. The aperture immediately to the right of the year indication displays the leap year cycle from 1-4.. Year Indication: The year indication appears in an aperture right under the winding-crown-position indicator. A metal disk has the numerals for centuries up to the 27th century. Mechanism to halt chime: Two mainspring barrels in the first tier of the movement power the chime and the alarm. The chime consists of four gongs, and is regulated by a centrifugal governor. When the repeater is in use, it can run down the mainspring in the barrel that powers the chime. If the watch is set to chime in passing, a blocking mechanism stops the Grand Strike or Small Strike before the mainspring of the chimes completely runs down. Winding-Crown position indicator: The Winding Crown position indicator is also unique to the Calibre 89. Placed towards the top of the mean solar time dial, it indicates the different positions at which the winding crown must be at in order to set specific functions of the watch. Position R to wind the movement and the chime, Position A to set astronomical calendar and the alarm, Position B to set sidereal time and mean solar time. The Mean Time Dial Cream dial, applied yellow gold Breguet numerals, outer track for minutes with red five minute divisions, double-sunk subsidiary dials for 30-minute and 12-hour registers combined with power reserve indications for going and striking trains respectively, further double-sunk subsidiary dial for constant seconds and temperature combined with moon-phases, retrograde date, apertures for day, month, year, and leap year indication, crown position indicator, yellow gold Breguet hour and minute hands, blued steel Breguet hand for second time zone, blued steel split second hands, blued steel triangular alarm indicator, hands for temperature and power reserve indications, blued steel hands for subsidiary seconds and chronograph minute/hour registers 1. Winding-Crown-Position Indicator 2. Century Decade and Year 3. Leap Year Indication 4. Split Seconds 5. Seconds in Meantime 6. Power Reserve for Movement 7. 30-Minute Register 8. Month 9. Second Time Zone 10. Constant Seconds 11. Moon-Phases 12. Temperature °C 13. Day 14. Power Reserve for Chime 15. Alarm 16. Hours in Meantime 17. 12-Hour Register 18. Date The Sidereal Dial White dial, painted gold Arabic numerals calibrated for 24 hours, inner minute track, subsidiary dials for sunrise, sunset and sidereal seconds combined with the equation of time, outermost ring for seasons, solstice and equinox indications, zodiac, and months, blued steel feuille hands for hours and minutes, blued steel hand for indicating date of Easter, yellow gold sun-tipped hand indicating to outer rings, blued steel hands for sunrise/sunset and subsidiary seconds, gold hand for equation of time, large aperture revealing the celestial chart surrounded with the cardinal points, the celestial disc composed of corundum sapphire crystal marked with 2,800 distinct gilt stars in five sizes according to their orders of magnitude, on the reverse side of the transparent disc with applied fine gold dust representing the Milky Way, the whole night sky for the horizon at the latitude of Geneva, Switzerland, 46 ° 11 59 North 1. Month 2. Signs of the Zodiac 3. Seasons 4. Minutes in Sidereal time 5. Celestial Chart over Geneva, Switzerland 6. Time of Sunset 7. Constant Seconds in Sidereal Time 8. Solstice 9. Sun Hand 10. Equation of Time 11. Time of Sunrise 12. Equinox 13. Hours in Sidereal Time 14. Date of Easter The movement of the Calibre 89 is composed of four separate tiers on three plates. The plates are made of the alloy maillechort, more commonly referred to as German silver. Within the movement are three mainspring barrels, powering the main functions of the watch and calendar, the alarm, and the repeat function respectively. The multi-tiered construction not only allows the watch to convey all the information of its 33 complications to the dial, but also allows the configuration of the dials to retain symmetry and attractive proportions. The Movement Tier 1 Containing the chime, alarm, power reserve for the movement and repeater, and 12-hour register. Tier 2 Containing the mean-time, tourbillon, chronograph function and 30-minute register. Tier 3 Containing the functions of the sidereal dial including the sidereal time, star chart, seasons, solstices and equinoxes, Zodiac calendar, equation of time, sunrise and sunset. Tier 4 Containing the functions of the perpetual calendar including the month, day and date, moon phases, second time zone, and the one non-horological function, the thermometer. The Case The classic bassine case of the Calibre 89 was made in house by Patek Philippe. It is cut from three pieces of 18 carat yellow gold, and consists of a central case band that supports the plates of the movement, the band fitted with a slide at the crown, engraved CL (Cadran Légal) and CS (Cadran sidéral), slide for strike/ silent engraved S/O, for slide for petite sonnerie and grande sonnerie engraved GS/PS, repeat slide at 6 oclock, one large slide for winding of the alarm, with two bezels on which the crystals are installed to protect the dials. Two corundum sapphire crystals are fitted atop each dial which is scratch resistant against virtually every common material, except diamond. The case boasts a massive diameter of 88.2 mm, 41.07 mm total thickness including the crystals, and, including the movement, weighs a total of 1,100 grams (2 lb, 43 oz). The case itself weighs an impressive 500 grams, twice the weight of the Henry Graves Supercomplication. With such an enormous number of complications co-existing within one finely tuned case, even the simplest of functions and configurations were put to the test and met with challenges. The winding-crown-position indicator is a simple function where a needle points to one of the three positions to which the winding-crown is set to perform certain tasks. However, as the complication was developed and ordered after the entire watch had been designed, fitting this otherwise simple function was nearly impossible without the perfecting eye of Patek Philippes, Jean-Pierre Musy and Paul Buclin.
The duc d'orléans breguet sympathiquebreguet, nos.128 and 5009, dated
THE DUC D'ORLÉANS BREGUET SYMPATHIQUE BREGUET, NOS.128 AND 5009, DATED 1835 A UNIQUE AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT ORMOLU-MOUNTED RED TORTOISESHELL BOULLE-STYLE, ROYAL SYMPATHIQUE QUARTER STRIKING CLOCK AND HALF-QUARTER REPEATING GOLD WATCH AUTOMATICALLY WOUND, SET AND REGULATED VIA THE CLOCK No other horological invention has been as consistently associated with the palaces and grand houses of the European Royalty and aristocracy as the Breguet Sympathique. The present example, named "the Duc d'Orléans" after its patron, has the most complex Sympathique mechanism of all the known examples. The complexity of the mechanism is only rivalled by the clock's sumptuous case. The d'Orléans is the only Sympathique known to wind, set to time and regulate its watch via the integrated cradle mounted on the clock's pediment. Originally commissioned by the Duc d'Orléans for his Parisian home the Pavillon de Marsan, nearly a century later the clock found its way into one of the world's most important horological museums, the Time Museum of Rockford, Illinois. The clock remained on display at the museum until 1999 when it was sold to a private collector at the ground-breaking Sotheby's auction "Masterpieces from the Time Museum." Following its sale at auction, the clock was displayed at the Patek Philippe Museum, from 2001 until 2005. The Duc d'Orléans Sympathique exemplifies Breguet's genius and demonstrates what can be achieved when the vision of patron, designer, artisan, and horologist seamlessly fuse with one another to create a true work of art. Breguet's horological genius and the Duc d'Orléans' remarkable eye resulted in the clock's creation, expressed through his talented designer, Charles Auguste Questel (1807-1888), bronzier, Guillaume Denière, and ébéntiste, Louis Alexandre Bellangé. The Clock Five-inch dial with enamel chapters and outer silver rings, signed Breguet MDCC-CXXXV, two train square plated movement signed Breguet No. 128, with eight-day Graham-type deadbeat escapement, the escape wheel teeth pierced for oil retention, jeweled pallets and beat adjustment on the crutch, quarter striking on two bells with cadrature mounted on the backplate, a tandem wheel on the striking barrel drives a separate train for winding the watch, the gridiron pendulum with gilt lenticular bob insert with an inlaid silver center, the Sympathique mechanism with three control wires rising above to the watch holder, the richly decorated case veneered overall with red tortoiseshell inlaid with gilt-brass and pewter scrolls, strap work and cornucopia, the watch holder set on the "tiled" cresting above lion masks holding a garland of fruit, the angled corners with studious winged putti finials above a satyr mask and shell frieze, the angled corners with Corinthian-capped pilasters inhabited by musical putti, the slightly out-swept base with decorated moldings and raised on gadrooned feet, the sides and back inlaid with the Duc d'Orléans' cypher surmounted by a crown, the glazed front door bordered with ormolu roundels depicting the signs of the Zodiac. height 23 in (59.1 cm) The Watch No. 5009, with silvered dial signed Breguet, finely engraved foliate center with sectors for state of wind and regulation, the movement with lever escapement, half-quarter repeating on a single gong, two-armed compensation balance with parachute suspension and spiral steel spring with terminal curve, the gold engine-turned case with concealed winding and setting in the band, with a gilt roundel applied with the Duc's cypher to occupy the vacant watch aperture during the day, gold Breguet ratchet key for the watch. diameter 2.24 in (57.1 mm) The Breguet Certificate Accompanied by a facsimile of Breguet certificate no. 4182 dated September 13, 1999, and Breguet certificate no. 4383 dated October 24, 2012, recording the sale on July 16th, 1836 to "Son Altesse Royale le Duc d'Orléans le No. 128 'Pendule Sympathique à quantieme de mois remontant et remettant la montre à l'heure quelque distance que celle-ci soit de la pendule; blanc commencement d'ouvrage: Winnerl; blanc finissage cadratures mécanise de remontoire, roué de quantieme; Charles Couëte, echappement et ouvrage: D. Lebrun.' Avec le No. 5009 chronomètre d'or, repetition au demi-quarts, cadran argent avec indicateurs de reserve de marche et d'avance-retard; echappement à ancre, balancier compensateur. Pour le prix de 10,000 Fr." The Patron Ferdinand-Philippe, Duc d'Orléans (1810-1842) Ferdinand-Philippe, Duc d'Orléans was born in Palermo in 1810. The eldest son of Louis Philippe and Marie Amélie, Princess of the Two Sicilies, Ferdinand-Philippe assumed the title of Duc d'Orléans in 1830 when his father became King of France. In 1837, he married Hélène Louis Elisabeth of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1814-1858) with whom he had two sons, the Comte de Paris and the Duc de Chârtres. The Duc d'Orléans was well-educated, with a distinguished military career and a clear passion for the arts. He regularly spent more than one-tenth of his annual one million franc income on art and cultural patronage. He had broad collecting interests, which ranged from medieval works of art to Chinese porcelain and furniture. Each piece in his collection was of the highest quality. He was passionate about contemporary painting, favoring the Barbizon school in particular. His collection boasted landscapes by Camille Corot and Theodore Rousseau, as well as paintings by Eugène Delacroix. In addition, the Duc commissioned Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres to paint the work, Antiochus and Stratonice and his own portrait in 1840. In 1832, the Duc d'Orléans began to redecorate his Parisian apartments at the Pavillon de Marsan surrounding the Louvre. Ferdinand-Philippe's financial wealth was such that he was able to employ the finest architects and craftsmen. The Duc was a young man of 22 when he appointed his contemporary Charles-Auguste Questel (1807-1888) as architect for his apartments. Questel demonstrated precocious talent, and the Duc was eager to patronize his artistic efforts. Questel went on to design the extraordinary case of the present lot while still in his twenties. Ferdinand-Philippe, the Duc d'Orléans died in a tragic carriage accident in 1842 at the young age of 32 whilst on his way to a military review in the countryside. Historians often consider Ferdinand-Philippe to have been the glue that held the July Monarchy together. His father, Louis-Philippe, was so distraught by the sudden loss that the event may have been a significant factor in the fall of the monarchy in 1848. The Commission In commissioning his Sympathique, the Duc d'Orléans sought to combine the latest horological technologies with a decorative design that would befit the sumptuous aesthetic of his royal apartments in the Pavillon de Marsan. Unsurprisingly, the Duc was no stranger to the House of Breguet. The d'Orléans family had been faithful patrons of Breguet since the horologist's beginnings in 1775. Ferdinand-Philippe's grandfather, Louis Philippe II, purchased one of Breguet's first self-winding watches called the perpetuelle in 1780. Breguet had long been established as the preferred watch and clock maker for the French Royal family, including Marie Antoinette, as well as many other European monarchs and nobility. Therefore, it was fitting for Ferdinand-Philippe to continue his family tradition by commissioning Breguet to make the technologically advanced Sympathique. It was essential that the design of the clock case complement the interior of the newly-decorated apartment at the Pavillon de Marsan. As Anne Dion Tennenbaum, Chief Curator of the Department of Decorative Arts at the Louvre in Paris, notes, Questel was the ideal candidate for the clock case's design. Questel hired bronzier, Guillaume Denière and ébéniste, Louis-Alexandre Bellangé to complete the execution of the case. According to Anne Dion Tennenbaum, it appears that the clock was later chosen by Dernière to be exhibited at the 1839 Exposition des Produits de l'Industrie in Paris. The Innovation of the Sympathique During the French Revolution, Abraham-Louis Breguet returned from exile to Switzerland where he conceived the ingenious idea of the Sympathique. The Sympathique was primarily designed to demonstrate Breguet's craftsmanship and capabilities, and to further enhance his reputation as the most distinguished and innovative horologist of his time. In a letter to his son dated June 26th, 1795, he wrote: "I have great pleasure my friend, in telling you that I have made a very important invention, but about which you must be very discreet, even about the idea. I have invented a means of setting a watch to time, and regulating it, without anyone having to do it… Then every night on going to bed, you put the watch into the clock. In the morning, or one hour later, it will be exactly to time with the clock. It is not even necessary to open the watch. I expect from this, the greatest promotion of our fame and fortune." Three types of Sympathiques were manufactured over the following twenty-five years. The earliest known Sympathique was made in 1812 by Louis Rabi, one of Breguet's most adept pupils, and featured the rewinding mechanism. However, the majority of the clocks are dated after Breguet's death in 1823. Due to the exorbitant cost of these masterpieces, many were sold to European Royalty. The Sympathique Mechanism In The Art of Breguet (p. 90), Dr. George Daniels writes of the Duc d'Orléans Sympathique: "The technical development of the mechanism of this example is… remarkably advanced… and may be regarded as the complete mechanical solution to Breguet's self-imposed problem of maintaining a watch without touching it… To have the watch set and wound it is necessary only to put it in the cradle and at three o'clock in the morning [the watch] will be set and… fully wound." The complexity of the Sympathique mechanism was such that construction could take up to 20 years to complete. Although the Duc d'Orléans Sympathique is numbered as part of a series that began ten years after Abraham Louis Breguet's death in 1823, the watch itself belongs to a series that began in 1794. And though the sale of the d'Orléans Sympathique was in 1836, thirteen years after Breguet's death, it is likely that Breguet was the mastermind behind its conception due to the amount of time it took to complete his most complicated pieces. Indeed, the present lot has all the characteristics of Breguet's horological philosophy. Dr. Daniels wonderfully sums up the Sympathique thus: "The Sympathique is an ingenious and amusing toy such as only Breguet could conceive. Certainly no one but Breguet could have produced them, for they need the most skillful workmen to make them and the financial burden would have been considerable. They can hardly be described as useful or necessary, but great artists are not always motivated by such considerations. Sometimes fine work is done just for its own sake, or because it contains a challenge undertaken and overcome, or perhaps simply because it is amusing and demonstrates a remarkable talent in full flight of fancy. The Sympathique is a jewel of misplaced ingenuity in a forest of scientific horological endeavors and their very existence is sufficient reason for their manufacture for they never cease to amaze and mystify… The mechanism is thoroughly ingenious and fascinating to watch in action. It can hardly be justified on practical grounds, for a watch with lever escapement and compensation balance will run accurately and not need regulating and setting each day… Such considerations however, were of little consequence to Breguet who simply wished to demonstrate his extraordinary ability as the supreme mechanic." Excerpted and reprinted with the kind permission of Daniels London Ltd., from The Art of Breguet, London, 1974, pp. 91. Dr. Daniels was especially mesmerized by the action of the d'Orléans time-setting mechanism, noting on page 91 of his book that "the [watch's] hand setting mechanism is fascinating to watch and quite startling to the uninitiated for… [at the allotted hour, if necessary] the hands will cross paths as the hour hand turns forward to three and the minute hand turns backwards to twelve." For a full description, including Dr. Daniels' technical drawings explaining the function and action of the Sympathique mechanism, see The Art of Breguet, pp. 356-360. Dr. George Daniels, MBE, CBE and the Breguet Sympathique no. 128 The celebrated horologist, master watchmaker, and Breguet scholar, Dr. George Daniels (1925-2011), was responsible for bringing the present lot, Sympathique no. 128, and its companion watch no. 5009, back to life. Seth G. Atwood (1917- 2010), the American collector and founder of the Time Museum in Rockford, Illinois, enlisted Dr. Daniels in 1974 to help him find one of the rare Sympathiques for his museum. Dr. Daniels and Mr. Atwood first met in 1974. Atwood, already a well-known horological collector, was on a mission to expand the Time Museum's collection. He and Will Andrewes, the museum's curator at the time, drew up a list of "must have pieces." In the Sotheby's New York auction, the "Fine Watches from the Atwood Collection", December 11th, 1986 catalogue, Dr. Daniels wrote of Mr. Atwood: "His method was to approach every known and established horologist whatever their specialty and describe the pieces he wanted in order to build a complete picture of the development of the timekeeper… Nothing but the best would do and everything contributory, especially unique and extremely rare pieces, were sought." The Time Museum was considered the most important horological collection in the world until it closed in March 1999. Its contents were sold by Sotheby's between 1999 and 2004. The initial sale on December 2nd, 1999 included the Sympathique no. 128. Locating a Breguet Sympathique was not an easy feat, given that all known examples were already held by institutions. Dr. Daniels wrote in his autobiography All in Good Time (2006): "I had located the piece in Paris through a French Antique dealer in 1974. The whole self -winding mechanism was missing, probably because, as so often happens with complex mechanisms, a repairer couldn't reassemble it properly. But only a half dozen or so Sympathiques were ever made, so Atwood was pleased to be able to purchase it. My task was to replace the whole of the mechanism while filling all vacant holes and without making any new ones. At that time, I was filled with a passionate love for Breguet's work and was at the peak of my understanding of his philosophy. The work presented no difficulty and was tremendously enjoyable." The restoration performed on the Sympathique is historic given that Dr. Daniels, considered the 'modern day Breguet' by virtue of his horological genius, had carried out the work. It is also significant that Dr. Daniels carried out the work for horological patron, Seth Atwood, who was instrumental in the early development of Dr. Daniels' crowning achievement, the invention of the Co-Axial Escapement. Dr. Daniels published The Art of Breguet in 1975. The monograph on Breguet's work was the result of a cumulative 15 years of study, thousands of miles traveled with camera and tripod, numerous collectors met, and hundreds of Breguet watches examined and photographed. In the preface, Dr. Daniels describes the role that restoring Breguet watches and clocks played in his own development as a horologist. He writes, "I began to specialize in the restoration of Breguet's work with a view of making a detailed study." Indeed, Dr. Daniels' mastery of the most complicated technical elements is made evident in his thorough and academic description and illustrations of the d'Orléans Sympathique. Dr. Daniels' interest in Breguet began in earnest following his restoration of a complicated Breguet pocket watch for his mentor and friend, Cecil Clutton, with whom he co-authored his first book in 1965 titled, Watches. In 1964, Daniels accompanied Clutton to Paris to research the newly restored watch in the Breguet record books. Dr. Daniels was then introduced to George Brown, then the owner of the Breguet firm. Mr. Brown and Dr. Daniels forged a lasting friendship, which provided Dr. Daniels with unparalleled access to the extensive Breguet archives. Dr. Daniels wrote in his book that "this information was important to [his] personal Breguet records in that it helped to give perspective to Breguet's system of manufacture." In 1967, Mr. Brown conferred upon Dr. Daniels the title of Agent de Breguet à Paris for London, a significant posting that had been vacant in London since 1920. Amongst Dr. Daniels' earliest works were two replicas of Breguet's Three Wheel Skeleton clock. Brown, excited by the quality of Dr. Daniel's work, insisted that the two pieces be entered into the record books of Breguet, assigned a Breguet number and given Breguet certificates. Dr. Daniels retained one of the two Three Wheel Skeleton clocks until his passing in 2011. The clock was eventually sold in the Sotheby's London sale of the "George Daniels Horological Collection", November 6th, 2012, lot 3. Known Sympathiques Approximately 12 Sympathiques are known at this time. Of the existing Sympathique clocks, three were made for the Spanish Crown; four were made for the Russian Crown; one was commissioned by Napoleon as a state gift for the Turkish Sultan, Mahmut II; and one was made for the British King George IV at the time of his Regency. Of the entire group, eight are retained by national museums. Only four have been offered at public auction, one of which is now in the Beyer Clock and Watch Museum in Zurich. The others, including the present lot, were purchased by private collectors. Of the known clocks, few have remained in their original state and some no longer possess their original watches. In researching his 1982 article in Alte Uhren, Helmut Mann accounted for ten clocks, and published their dates of manufacture and buyers. (Mann, H. "Breguet Pendule Sympathique", Alte Uhren, July 3rd, 1982, pp. 177-184). Following the publication of this article, an additional two Sympathique clocks were discovered. The first was clock no. 257, made for Francis Barring, currently in a private collection. The second was clock no. 421, made for Joseph Bonaparte, King of Spain, for 6,000 Francs and constructed between 1795 and 1808. However, it is not confirmed that clock no. 421 was sold with a watch, despite the fact that one was recorded in Breguet's books. It was sold in 1994 and is now in the collection of the Beyer Museum, Zurich. The final Sympathique clock, No. 222, was made for Grand Duke Constantine Nicholaievich (missing its original watch), was sold at Sotheby's, Geneva, November 18, 1997, lot 257.
Patek, Philippe, Genève. The white gold "Calibre 89", the most complicated watch in the world with a total of 33 complications
Patek, Philippe, Genève. The white gold "Calibre 89", the most complicated watch in the world with a total of 33 complications. A spectacular and unique, keyless three-barrel, double dial, astronomical and astrological 18K white gold watch with sidereal time, second time-zone, time of sun-rise and sun-set, equation of time, perpetual calendar, century leap year correction, century, decade and year indication, four year cycle indication, season, equinox, solstice and zodiac indication, star chart, phases and age of the moon, date of Easter indication, split-seconds chronograph, hour and minute recorders, Westminster chime on four gongs, Grande and Petite sonnerie, alarm, up/down indicators for the going and striking train, three way setting indicator, winding crown position indicator, thermometer and Tourbillon regulator. Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives and a fitted hardwood box. C. four-body, "bassine", polished. D. Front: cream with applied white gold Breguet numerals,retrograde date sector, hour and minute recording dials combined with the power reserve sectors for the going and striking trains, moon phase, year, month, day and four uear cycle apertures, second time-zone, thermometer, winding-crown position indicator, alarm indicator, outer 1/5th seconds scale with five minute/seconds red Arabic markers and subsidiary constant seconds. Blued steel and white gold hands. Back: Silvered with hours of sidereal time, date of Easter sector, sun-rise and sun-set dials, subsidiary sidereal seconds, equaeion of time sector, sun hand and aperture for the star chart. Blued steel and white gold hands. M. Cal. 89, three-barrels on four levels, maillechort, 600grams, "fausses côtes" decoration, 126 jewels, 1728 parts straight-line lever escapement, Gyromax balance, blued-steel Breguet balance spring, adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and five positions, tourbillion regulator.,Dial side main plate: mechanisms for the chime, alarm, 12-hour recorder and the power reserve indicators, the. Reverse main plate, mechanisms for mean time, the chronograph, the 30-minute recorder and the tourbillon regulator. Plate 2: mechanisms for sidereal time, the season, solstices, equinoxes and solstice, the times of sunrise and set, the equation of time, the date of easter and the star chart. Plate 3: the mechanisms for the secular perpetual calendar, the second time-zone, the phases and age of the moon and the thermometer. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 88.2mm, 41.07mm thick (with the crystals), total weight 1100 grams.
Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 929693, case No. 656462, Ref. 1415 HU (Heures Universelles). Production of this reference started in 1939. Extremely
Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 929693, case No. 656462, Ref. 1415 HU (Heures Universelles). Production of this reference started in 1939. Extremely rare and probably unique platinum "World Time" gentleman's wristwatch with a platinum Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by original fitted box and the Extract of the Archives. C. three-body, solid, polished and brushed, hand-engraved revolving reeded bezel bearing the names of 41 cities in the world, teardrop faceted lugs. D. matte silver with applied white gold Arabic numerals, concentric, revolving dial in 24 hours for the nocturnal and diurnal hours. White gold fancy hands. M. Cal. 12'''-400 HU, rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 18 jewels, lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance adjusted for heat, cold isochronism and 5 positions, Breguet balance spring, micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 31 mm.
Composed of 4,370 elements, including approximately 795 prototype watches, 187 variant watches and 43 hybrid models; 2970 standard product
The Blum Collection Composed of 4,370 elements, including approximately 795 prototype watches, 187 variant watches and 43 hybrid models; 2970 standard product watches and 363 special product models. Together with various elements including packaging, five framed pictures, speciality displays, posters, medals, cases, dials, displays, pins. Various materials including plastic, stainless steel, leather, diamonds, gold, platinum, cloth, wood, paper, synthetic feathers, glass, synthetic resin, synthetic leather, crystal, silicone, rubber, aluminium.
Patek Philippe. A unique and historically important 18K gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases and tonneau-shaped case
Patek Philippe. A unique and historically important 18K gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases and tonneau-shaped case Signed Patek Philippe & Co., Genève, ref. 1527, movement no. 863'247, case no. 634'687, manufactured in 1943 Cal. 13''' nickel-finished lever movement stamped with the Geneva seal, 23 jewels, bimetallic compensation balance, silvered matte dial, applied gold Arabic numerals, outer railway five minute divisions and tachymetre scale, three subsidiary dials for constant seconds, 30 minutes register, date and moon phases, tonneau-shaped case, extended downturned lugs, snap on back, two rectangular chronograph buttons in the band, 18K gold Patek Philippe buckle, case, dial and movement signed 37.6 mm. diam.
PATEK PHILIPPE REFERENCE 5208T-010 REFERENCE 5208T-010 WAS CREATED SPECIALLY FOR ONLY WATCH 2017. IT STANDS OUT AS THE FIRST AND ONLY VERSION OF THIS TIMEPIECE EVER PRODUCED IN TITANIUM, A METAL RARELY USED FOR A PATEK PHILIPPE. Model name / Reference: 5208T-010 Case: Titanium Interchangeable full back and sapphire-crystal case back. Case is humidity and dust protected only (not water resistant) Dial: Blue dial with a hand-guilloché "carbon" pattern, gold applied indexes with luminescent coating 18K gold dial plate.- 60-minute and 12-hour counters Central chronograph hand Day, date, month, leap year and day/night indication inapertures Moon phases Seconds subdial Calibre: Caliber R CH 27 PS QI. Self-winding mechanical movement with distinctive and unique black-rhodium plated finish equipped with a micro-rotor decorated with an exclusive hand-guilloched carbon fiber pattern. Minute repeater. Chronograph, instantaneous perpetual calendar with day/night indication Bracelet: Blue Cordura strap with fold-over clasp Dimensions: Diameter: 42mm - Thickness: 15.11mm Specificities: Reference 5208T-010 was created specially for Only Watch 2017. It stands out as the first and only version of this timepiece ever produced in titanium, a metal rarely used for a Patek Philippe. This unique piece features a blue dial adorned with a hand-guilloched carbon-fiber pattern, underlining the manufacture's role as protector of the rare handcrafts. The caliber R CH 27 PS QI movement, visible through a sapphire-crystal display back, also presents a distinctive finish with the entire movement being black rhodium-plated. The platinum micro-rotor is hand-guilloché with the same decoration as the dial. A blue Cordura strap echoes the dial color.
Assembled by a dedicated Swatch collector over the years, this is
All the watches are in unworn pristine condition, please note that the functionality and time keeping accuracy of the watches have not been tested. This collection represents the dedication and passion of the owner Paul Dunkel spreading across 25 years. He acquired the watches via various means including exchange forums, auctions and retail outlets globally. The acrylic presentation stands that accompany the watches are the efforts of a professional Swatch expert shop to better preserve the watches and illustrate the spirit of Swatch. To our specialist's opinion, some of the watches, particularly the prototypes of the collection, are likely configured versions of the factory version, which are presumably experimental ventures at the time.We would like to offer this Swatch collection as not merely a watch or art collection, but a holistic experience that captures the essence of the Swatch brand. "In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE." **Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping. Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."
A historically important and exceedingly attractive white gold...
Rolex Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed When this watch made its public debut in 2013 via Hodinkee, a well-known online watch magazine, the news of a white gold vintage Daytona sent reverberations throughout the watch community. Here was a timepiece so precious, that its very existence baffled the most seasoned of collectors. So elusive that only a handful of the horological cognoscenti had seen it in the flesh. Having presided in John Goldberger's world-class collection for many years, this singular white gold reference 6265 appears at public auction for the very first time.The "Black Swan Theory" hypothesizes that every unpredictable and major event can be explained in hindsight. This timepiece's appearance at auction proves this theory. For the longest time, Goldberger has asserted that this Cosmograph would never be for sale. Quite simply it could not be replaced. However, realizing the impact its sale could have on others, he was willing to reconsider. He has therefore decided to sell this watch to benefit Children Action, a foundation dedicated to helping the lives of youth around the world.For many years it was commonly accepted that Rolex only produced manual winding Cosmographs in stainless steel or yellow gold, and never in platinum, white or pink gold. While a bi-metal Cosmograph was discovered last year and sold at Phillips in October 2017, it was unfathomable to many that Rolex would ever deviate from its modus operandi.Yet for one lucky customer, Rolex created a one-off unique masterpiece – a Cosmograph cased in white precious metal. Research shows that this watch was manufactured in 1970 and delivered in 1971, made upon special order for a German retailer. At the time of production, it was very likely the rarest, most luxurious and special Cosmograph available on the market. Some 45 years later, this claim still rings true today.This chronograph is without doubt Rolex's magnum opus. Bearing reference number 6265, its groundbreaking rediscovery some ten years ago is now an indelible part of the Cosmograph Daytona's history. It is our understanding that this watch was internally assigned with the reference number 6265/9. While Rolex historically and traditionally assigned the number 8 for yellow gold watches, 9 was used for timepieces cased in white gold. Rolex product literature confirms this, as yellow Cosmographs were listed with the reference number 6265/8.While originally found with a leather strap, Goldberger has fitted this timepiece with a luxuriously heavy white gold bracelet to enhance its visual appeal. This watch features a black "sigma" dial, which is correct for the manufacture date. The contrasting black background and silver graphics is visually spectacular. Subtly unassuming, the case has beautiful luminosity, glowing in a way that only white gold can. Featuring bold proportions and stamped with a crisp 18K mark and hallmark, it is like nothing the market has ever seen before.Its importance and rarity cannot be overstated. A dream come true for many, it presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors to acquire the one and only manual-winding white gold Rolex chronograph. Sold to benefit Children Action, it is the first and most likely only time the white gold reference 6265/9 will ever appear in the public sphere in our lifetime.
The Yellow Gold Calibre 89 Patek Philippe - Genève A spectacular and unique, keyless three-barrel, double dial, astronomical and astrological 18K yell
The Yellow Gold Calibre 89 Patek Philippe - Genève A spectacular and unique, keyless three-barrel, double dial, astronomical and astrological 18K yellow gold watch with sidereal time, second time zone, time of sunrise and sunset, equation of time, perpetual calendar, century leap year correction, century, decade and year indication, four year cycle indication, season, equinox, solstice and Zodiac indication, star chart, phases and age of the moon, date of Easter indication, split-seconds chronograph, hour and minute recorders, Westminster chime on four gongs, Grande and Petite Sonnerie, alarm, up/down indicators for the going and striking train, three way setting indicator, winding crown position indicator, thermometer and Tourbillon regulator. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives and a fitted hardwood box. C. Four-body, "bassine", polished. D. Front: cream with applied yellow gold Breguet numerals, retrograde date sector, hour and minute recording dials combined with the power reserve sectors for the going and striking trains, moon phase, year, month, day and four-year cycle apertures, second time zone, thermometer, winding crown position indicator, alarm indicator, outer 1/5th seconds scale with five minute/seconds red Arabic markers and subsidiary constant seconds. Blued steel and yellow gold hands. Back: Silvered with hours of sidereal time, date of Easter sector, sun-rise and sun-set dials, subsidiary sidereal seconds, equation of time sector, sun hand and aperture for the star chart. Blued steel and yellow gold hands. M. Cal. 89, three barrels on four levels, maillechort, 600 grams, fausses cotes decoration, 126 jewels, 1728 parts, straight-line lever escapement, Gyromax balance, blued-steel Breguet balance spring, adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and five positions, tourbillion regulator. Dial side main plate: mechanisms for the chime, alarm, 12-hour recorder and the power reserve indicators for the chime and movement. Reverse main plate, mechanisms for mean time, the chronograph, the 30-minute recorder and the tourbillon regulator. Plate 2: Mechanisms for sidereal time, the season, solstices, equinoxes and solstice, the times of sunrise and sunset, the equation of time, the date of Easter and the star chart. Plate 3: The mechanisms for the secular perpetual calendar, the second time zone, the phases and age of the moon and the thermometer. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 88.2 mm, 41.07 mm thick (with the crystals), total weight 1100 grams.
A spectacular and historically important yellow gold automatic triple calendar wristwatch with moonphases, black dial and diamond indexes
Rolex A spectacular and historically important yellow gold automatic triple calendar wristwatch with moonphases, black dial and diamond indexes 1952 36mm. Diameter Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
An extremely rare and important oversized stainless steel single button chronograph wristwatch with vertical registers, sector dial and
Patek Philippe An extremely rare and important oversized stainless steel single button chronograph wristwatch with vertical registers, sector dial and pulsometer-scale 1927 35mm. Diameter Case, dial and movement signed
Breguet & Fils, Paris, No. 2667 "Montre plate à deux mouvements, sur le principe des chronomètres". An extremely rare and exceptionally fine and elega
Breguet & Fils, Paris, No. 2667 "Montre plate à deux mouvements, sur le principe des chronomètres". An extremely rare and exceptionally fine and elegant 18K gold precision watch with two movements Signed Breguet et Fils, No. 2667, sold in August 1814 to Mr Garcias of London for the sum of 5,000 francs 26'''gilded brass movement with two complete mechanisms contained within the area of a single plate, both with going barrels, fully jewelled, straight line calibrated lever escapements with divided lift and straight pallets, banking against the escape wheels arbour, draw, bimetallic steel/platinum compensation balances, gold and platinum screws, with pare-chute suspension on both pivots, blued steel Breguet free-sprung balance springs, glazed cuvette, engine-turned silver dial, two small subsidiary dials for the mean time, to the left subsidiary dial with Arabic suspended numerals, outer minute track and yellow gold Breguet hands, with inside at noon a subsidiary dial for the seconds, with yellow gold equilibrated hand, symmetrically to the right another subsidiary dial with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track and blued steel Breguet hands, with equilibrated central second blued steel hand, the circular four body "forme quatre baguettes" case, chiselled band; ball-shaped pendant and round bow, signed on the dial and numbered 2667 on the case, case no. 1887 by Jean-Louis Joly 63.7 mm. diam.
Patek Philippe. An outstanding and unique stainless steel perpetual calendar wristwatch with phases of the moon, amagnetic balance and applied painted
Patek Philippe. An outstanding and unique stainless steel perpetual calendar wristwatch with phases of the moon, amagnetic balance and applied painted Arabic numerals Signed Patek Philippe, Geneve, ref. 1526, movement no. 964'568, 612'185, manufactured in 1949 Cal. 12'''120 nickel-finished lever movement, 18 jewels, amagnetic compensation balance, the silvered matte dial with applied black painted white gold Arabic numerals, black painted feuille hands, windows for day and month, subsidiary dial indicating date combined with constant seconds and phases of the moon, in circular case with downturned lugs, snap on back, contemporary stainless steel Patek Philippe buckle, case, dial and movement signed 34 mm. diam.
The Uncovered Amphora Attributable to Piguet & Capt, the enamel by the workshop of J-L. Richter, Geneva, circa 1805, made for the Chinese market
The Uncovered Amphora Attributable to Piguet & Capt, the enamel by the workshop of J-L. Richter, Geneva, circa 1805, made for the Chinese market. Magnificent 18K gold and enamel, pearl-set musical form watch with automaton scene, designed as an amphora, the second of a unique pair. Accompanied by period fitted box. C. The painted enamel panel below the watch covers a musical automaton scene. The oval watch has a central visible stone-set oscillating balance. The panel shows a mother with her child who is holding grapes, in the manner of Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun (1755-1842). It is hinged so that when a catch is released it rises forwards. A small push on one side of the amphora sets the music and automaton going. A little boy to the left raises and lowers a stick, trying to encourage a dog to jump over it. To the right, also in varicolored gold, is a young lady playing a guitar. The painted background, through which the mechanism is wound, is of a classical urn upon a pedestal within a wooded landscape. Seven rows of graduated pearls run to the base which is decorated in polychrome champlevé enamel. The decoration is repeated on the reverse of the amphora, and the sides have foliate engraving, pearls and polychrome champlevé enamel, some of which is translucent. Graduated pearls decorate the back as well as the front of the handles. An oval painted enamel of a pair of nesting doves within a garland of flowers covers the watch movement. This opens onto the cuvette through which the mechanism is wound and set. The panel in the center below has a pastoral scene of a herdsman driving his cattle to drink beside a bridge, with a village and castle beyond. Later stopper. D. Oval, blue enamel plate with an aperture for viewing the four-arm polished steel diamond-set balance, beneath, the white enamel dial with Breguet numerals, above, subsidiary seconds dial. Blued-steel "spade" hands. M. 14.3 x 27 mm., oval, full plate brass, fixed barrel, cylinder escapement, steel escapement wheel, silver four-arm balance. Music and automaton driven by a five-wheel train, the last pinion with a small two-wing fly as a regulator. Pinned barrel with a stack of six tuned teeth. The automaton is activated by two cams mounted on the extension of an additional wheel driven by the musical train. Dim. 102 x 58 mm.
A unique and important 18k yellow gold chronograph watch...
gilt brass movement with Lepine calibre construction, 32-hour duration, two going barrels with contra-rotating trains driving the two escape wheels of the Daniels independent double-wheel, incorporating a 'Y' shaped central locking detent with three pallets, mono-metallic stainless steel four-arm balance with gold adjusting screws and Daniels auxiliary compensation, free-sprung overcoil balance spring, the two trains calculated for mean-solar and sidereal time including seconds, annual calendar ring with kidney-cam and equation of time indication, accurate lunar dial driven from the sidereal train and indication of the age and phase of the moon, centre-seconds chronograph mechanism engaging either train, selected by a lever on the movement silver engine-turned dial with 24-hour chapter ring to the left for sidereal time, 12-hour chapter ring to the right for mean-solar time, each with overlapping subsidiary seconds dials below, roman and arabic numerals, outer seconds track for chronograph, aperture in the mean-solar chapter ring for the annual calendar, apertures in the sidereal dial for the age and phase of the moon, fan-form sector above for equation of time, signed Daniels in a cartouche below the seconds rings, gold Daniels hands to the mean-solar dials and blued-steel Daniels hands to the sidereal dials and chronograph case with engine-turned bezels, glazed back with two round buttons in the band for chronograph, Daniels pendant and bow dial and movement signed attached yellow gold double-link chain and gold and blued steel double ended key Accompanied by a George Daniels presentation case. This piece holds special memories for me for this was more often than not Georges dress watch of choice at events and was the watch that he wore during his visit to the then Manchester School of Horology where I studied. It was the sight of this watch which steered me from the repair of watches to their making. The watch was made in circa 1982 and very quickly achieved its iconic status for its stunning aesthetic appeal and fascinating movement. In 2012 I was fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to refresh the piece which resulted in a complete strip down of the mechanism. It was whilst working on the piece that my view of George changed dramatically, for the mechanism was like no other that I have seen before, or since. The level of creativity throughout is out of this world, and you can see how George circumvented a potential design issue with simplistic brilliance. One of the stand-out features for me are the two escape wheels, which drive the common balance. This is Georges unique double-wheeled escapement but with this piece the Sidereal train has an escape wheel of fourteen teeth, whereas the Solar train has just thirteen. The geometric difficulties that this feature creates are mind boggling and I am sure the very idea would have stopped most makers in their tracks. For George however, it was simply another challenge that had to be overcome. Another interesting feature is the chronograph mechanism which allows the user to switch between recording solar or sidereal seconds. In order to achieve this the maker developed a clutch system which was the genesis for his unique compact chronograph mechanism which would feature in two further watches. This watch was the culmination of thirteen years of making highly original one-off pieces and went on to be the catalyst for many future developments. [The above extract was written by Roger Smith] In 1974 George Daniels invented the independent double-wheel escapement; the movement was to captivate collectors with its visual appeal of symmetrical trains. George Daniels was on a trip to Zurich where he met an important collector for dinner. The collector nudged him and said what do you have in your pocket, so he took out his watch, a gold Daniels pocket watch with independent double-wheel escapement. The collector said he had to have the watch and asked him to sell it to him. Daniels said it was not for sale but the collector persisted. Thinking this was an enormous compliment as the collector had not even asked the price, Daniels sold him the watch. Immediately regretting his decision, Daniels decided to make another watch which would be an improvement on the first both in terms of complication and accuracy. Having not fully exploited the first watch, the second watch would have separate calculations for each train, it was therefore possible to indicate both mean-solar and sidereal time. In the 18thcentury, to check the accuracy of your watch, you had to have a precision clock which was set by a star. This watch, by means of having solar and sidereal time, could make the calculation for you, the difference being 3.555 minutes per day. To try and improve the calculation of the train which allowed for an error of 0.8 seconds per year, George Daniels contacted a friend at Cambridge University to ask if they knew of a mathematician interested in watches. He received a response almost immediately and extraordinarily enough the mathematicians name was Professor Daniels. The professor was able to calculate a better ratio of 0.28 seconds per day, which George Daniels was very happy with. George Daniels used to say to people, when you are on your package tour to Mars you need a watch like this, and when using the telephone for long distance calls you could switch the chronograph into sidereal time to cut your bills by 3.555 minutes per day. Originally the watch had been referred to as the Daniels squared (2) because of the assistance he received from Professor Henry Daniels, but George Daniels did not think this was good enough, so re-named it the Space Travellers' watch in honour of the American landing on the moon which was the greatest space exploratory journey of the century. George Daniels made two Space Travellers' watches. The first, originally sold by Bobinet in 1982, was subsequently sold at Sothebys Geneva to a private collector, on 17th November 1988. The present watch, the Second Space Traveller, is the most complex of the two watches, having the addition of the chronograph function. Viewing the two movements side by side, one is immediately struck by the added complexity of the chronograph work visible to the backplate of the Space Traveller II. The central bridge work on the Traveller II is noticeably slimmer than Traveller I, this is in order to incorporate II's chronograph work. It is also interesting to note that the case back of the Space Traveller II is fully glazed as Roger Smith has observed, this was Daniels' dress watch of choice, especially at events. Of course everyone was always keen to see what watch George Daniels was wearing the design of this watch meant that, not only could the viewer marvel at the beauty of its dial, but they could be equally mesmerised by the complexity and wonder of the movement, clearly visible through the exhibition case back.
Retailed by asprey: ref 2499possibly unique and highly important
Dial: silveredCalibre: cal. 13 130 manual winding, 23 jewelsMovement number: 868'346Case: 18k yellow gold, snap-on back engraved 'RC 25th May 1956'Case number: 687'762Closure: 18k yellow gold Patek Philippe buckleDimensions: 37mm Signed: case, dial and movement Accessories: Patek Philippe presentation case and Extract from the Archives confirming date of sale on May 18th, 1956
Patek Philippe. An exceptional, highly attractive, historically important and certainly unique platinum chromometer wristwatch with Guillaume balance,
Patek Philippe. An exceptional, highly attractive, historically important and certainly unique platinum chromometer wristwatch with Guillaume balance, Bulletin d'Observatoire, additional diamond-set dial and platinum bracelet Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, Geneva Observatory Bulletin no. 861121, made especially for J.B Champion, ref. 2458, movement no. 861'121, case no. 673'916, manufactured in 1952 Cal. 13''' Lépine, mechanical movement numbered twice and stamped twice with the Geneva seal, three-quarter plate, 20 jewels, blued steel Breguet balance spring, Guillaume balance, micrometer regulator, silvered matte dial, applied baton numerals, outer beady minute divisions, gold feuille hands, subsidiary seconds, circular heavy case, snap on back, platinum Patek Philippe buckle, case, dial and movement signed 36 mm. diam
An exceedingly rare, highly important and very attractive yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with "lemon" grené dial, white graphics and bracelet
Rolex An exceedingly rare, highly important and very attractive yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with "lemon" grené dial, white graphics and bracelet 1969 37.5mm. Diameter Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
Patek Philippe. An exceptionally rare, very attractive and highly important platinum perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases
Patek Philippe. An exceptionally rare, very attractive and highly important platinum perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, ref. 2499/100, movement no. 869'308, case no. 2'817'876, manufactured in 1987 Cal. 13''' mechanical movement stamped twice with the Geneva seal, 23 jewels, silvered matte dial, applied gold baton and square numerals, gold dauphine hands, outer Arabic five minute divisions, windows for day and month, three subsidiary dials for constant seconds, 30 minutes register and moon phases with date, circular case, stepped downturned lugs, snap on back, platinum Patek Philippe buckle, case, dial and movement signed 37.5 mm. diam.
King Fouad Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 402833, case No. 251058. Started in 1914, presented to King Fouad I of Egypt, by the Swiss expatriate
King Fouad Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 402833, case No. 251058. Started in 1914, presented to King Fouad I of Egypt, by the Swiss expatriate community in 1929. Exceptionally fine, highly important and unique, large 18K yellow gold and enamel, keyless, astronomical carillon trip minute-repeating, grande and petite sonnerie with silence, two-train clockwatch with split-seconds chronograph, 30-minute register, perpetual calendar and phases and age of the moon. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. C. Four-body, massive, bassine à filets, polished, back with the arms of King Fouad the First in polychromeenamel, hinged gold cuvette inscribed A Sa Majesté, Fouad 1er, Hommage de la Colonie Suisse dEgypte, 1929.D. Matte silver, black champlevé upright Arabic numerals, outer minute track with chronograph track dividedinto fifths with five-minute/seconds Arabic markers, aperture for the day and date at 12, concentric leap yearand month dial at 9, 30-minute recorder at 3, subsidiary seconds with moon phase aperture and lunar age sectorat 6. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Cal. R.A. 21 74/12, maillechort, fausses côtes decoration, 46 jewels, twotrains, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with eight adjustments, improvedVacheron & Constantin micrometer regulator (Patents CH101652, registered 1 November 1923 and CH105967,registered 1 November 1924), tandem winding, split-seconds mechanism set on the back plate, striking on threegongs, repeating on three gongs by three hammers through trip in the band, grande/petite sonnerie andstrike/silent levers on the band, chronograph pusher co-axial to the winding crown, split seconds via a pusher inthe band.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 67 mm.
Patek Philippe. An extremely fine, important and possibly unique 18K white gold cushion-shaped single button chronograph wristwatch with vertically po
Patek Philippe. An extremely fine, important and possibly unique 18K white gold cushion-shaped single button chronograph wristwatch with vertically positioned register and Breguet numerals Signed Patek Philippe & Co., Geneva, Switzerland, movement no. 198'207, case no. 608'751, manufactured in 1928 Cal. 13''' circular nickel-finished lever movement, 28 jewels, bimetallic compensation balance, silvered matte dial, applied white gold Breguet numerals, white gold spade hands, outer five minute divisions, two vertical subsidiary dials for 30 minutes register and constant seconds, cushion-shaped case, enlarged polished bezel, extended downturned lugs, snap on back, chronograph mechanism operated through the crown, later 18K white gold Patek Philippe buckle, case, dial and movement signed 34 mm. wide & 43 mm. overall length
PATEK PHILIPE REF. 5004 titanium Patek Philippe, Genève, Ref. 5004T. Fine and unique split-seconds chronograph wristwatch with 30-minute counter, perp
PATEK PHILIPE REF. 5004 titanium Patek Philippe, Genève, Ref. 5004T. Fine and unique split-seconds chronograph wristwatch with 30-minute counter, perpetual calendar, moon phases, leap year and 24-hour indications. Accompanied by a fitted wooden box, Certificate of Origin, setting pin, hangtag and leather folio. C. Three-body, solid, polished, sapphire crystal scew-down caseback, case band with 4 correctors, push button in the crown for the split-seconds function and 2 push-buttons to start (at 2) and stop (at 4) the chronograph. Concave bezel, fluted lugs, sapphire crystals. Case and prong buckle in titanium. Water-resistant. D. Solid gold dial plate. Black with hand-guilloché carbon pattern and gold applied Arabic numerals. Subsidiary dials: 30-minute counter and leap year at 3, days of the month at 6, seconds and 24 hours indication at 9, apertures for the days of the week, the months and the moon phases, outer 1/5th seconds track. White gold leaf-shaped hands. M. Cal. CHR 27-70 PS Q, stamped with the Geneva Seal quality hallmark, rhodium-plated, Geneva striping decoration, 28 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, Gyromax® balance, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring.
Patek Philippe. A superb and unique platinum perpetual calendar wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, phases of the moon and black hard enamel Breguet
Patek Philippe. A superb and unique platinum perpetual calendar wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, phases of the moon and black hard enamel Breguet numerals Signed Patek Philippe, Geneve, ref. 2497, movement no. 888'075, case no. 687'949, manufactured in 1954 Cal. 27 SC Q nickel-finished lever movement stamped twice with the Geneva seal, 18 jewels, bimetallic compensation balance, micrometer regulator, the silvered matte dial with black hard enamel Breguet numerals, sweep centre seconds, two apertures for day and month, subsidiary dial indicating phases of the moon combined with date, the large circular case with downturned fluted lugs, snap on back, original platinum Patek Philippe buckle, case, dial and movement signed 37 mm. diam.
An extremely rare and highly important stainless steel split-seconds chronograph wristwatch with silvered dial, raised steel hour markers
Patek Philippe An extremely rare and highly important stainless steel split-seconds chronograph wristwatch with silvered dial, raised steel hour markers and tachometer scale 1945 33mm. Diameter Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 868248, case No. 665024, Ref. 2499, first series, retailed by Frec-cero, made in 1951, sold on September 29, 1955. P
Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 868248, case No. 665024, Ref. 2499, first series, retailed by Frec-cero, made in 1951, sold on September 29, 1955. Production of this reference started in 1951. Exceptional and highly important astronomic, 18K pink gold gentleman's wristwatch with square button chronograph, 30-minute register, internal pulsometer, perpetual calendar and moon phases, with 18K pink gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accom-panied by the "Extrait des Registres". C. three-body, solid, polished, concave bezel, fluted curved lugs, sapphire crystal. D. matte silver with applied pink gold Arabic numerals, auxiliary dials for the seconds, the 30-minute register, graduation for the days of the month, outer pulsometer graduation for 15 pulsations, apertures for the days of the week, the months and the moon phases. Pink gold "Feuille" hands. M. Cal. 13 ''' CC, rhodium-plated, "fausses-côtes" decoration, 23 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, 8 adjustments, Breguet balance-spring, micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 38 mm.
Patek Philippe. An exceptional 18K gold perpetual...
Patek Philippe. An exceptional 18K gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, retailed by Serpico y Laino, Caracas, ref. 2499, first series, movement no. 868'341, case no. 687'757, manufactured in 1952 Movement: cal. 13''', 23 jewels, signed Dial: signed by maker and retailer Case: snap on back, 37.6 mm. diam., signed by maker, stamped S.&L. by retailer With: 18K gold Patek Philippe buckle, Extract from the Archives confirming manufacture of the present watch in 1952 and its subsequent sale 2 March 1956
Breguet, No. 217 "montre perpétuelle à répétition à quantième...
Breguet, No. 217 "montre perpétuelle à répétition à quantième de mois et dates et équation, échappement libre à ancre". An exceptional and historically important, probably unique 18K gold self-winding à toc quarter repeating lever watch with sectoral equation of time, day and month calendar and sectoral power-reserve indication, constructed on the principals of the garde-temps, in a Desoutter gold tooled red morocco fitted box No. 217 Signed Breguet et Fils, sold in Germinal an 8 (1800) to Général Moreau for the sum of 3,600 Francs, resold to Mr. Havas on 31st December 1817 for 4,800 Francs Gilded brass movement with two mainspring barrels, early jewelled lever escapement with steel lever and pallet frame, brass escape wheel, four arm compensation balance supporting two compensating affixes with adjustable weights on screws at the free ends, platinum shield-shaped oscillating weight, blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves and screw stud, parachute suspension, equation of time cam mounted on the month calendar wheel, à toc quarter repeating with one hammer onto the case, weight lock and advance/retard levers in the band, engine-turned silver dial, Roman numerals on plain chapter ring, outer dot minute divisions, gold Breguet hands, two fan-shaped sectors for 60-hours power reserve and equation of time calibrated from +15 to -15 minutes, large subsidiary seconds concentric to the month ring, aperture for the date with gold arrow pointer, circular polished case with concealed hinge, back secured by two screws in the band, quarter repeating pull-twist push-piece in the pendant, dial signed Breguet et Fils, the reverse punched B 217 T for Tavernier, dial plate edge signed Breguet No. 217, case No. B 217. 55 mm. diam.
Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 124824,case No. 235326, sold on October 13, 1923
Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 124824,case No. 235326, sold on October 13, 1923.Extremely fine and important, early and probably unique, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with the function of the chronograph controlled by the single button, the split-seconds chronograph controlled by the crown, 60-minute register, leather strap and 18K yellow gold buckle. C. four body, massive, polished, gold cuvette with signature and number, hinged case back, gold screwed bars. D. white enamel with painted Breguet numerals, auxiliary seconds and 60-minute register dials, outer 1/5 second graduation. "Spade" bluedsteel hands. M. 12''', extra quality, rhodium plated,23 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, 8 adjustments, Breguet balance spring, the single button on the band is for start-stop and return to zero functions of the chronograph, the winding-crown is for stop and reunite of the split-seconds hand.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 32 mm.Accompanied by Extract from the Archives.
The henry graves jr. 18k yellow gold tonneau minute repeating wristwatch engrave
• circular manual winding nickel lever movement, bi-metallic compensation balance • gilt tonneau dial, painted black enamel Breguet numerals, subsidiary seconds, blued steel spade hands • the case of tonneau form, the band fitted with slide, back engraved with Graves' Coat-of-Arms • case, dial and movement signed • with an 18k yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle With an Extract from the Archives confirming the date of manufacture of the movement in 1895, encasement in 1927, and subsequent sale on June 16th, 1928. Research has shown that this previously unknown watch is likely to be the earliest minute repeating wristwatch purchased by Henry Graves, Jr. Henry Graves Jr., is known to have owned four minute repeating wristwatches. The present watch is also the only one made for Graves in yellow gold. The three others were cased in platinum. Of those, the most famous and nearly identical to the present lot is No.198212, now in the Patek Philippe Museum. For an illustration of No.198212, see Huber, M. & Banbery, A., Patek Philippe Wristwatches, Second Edition, p. 315. One platinum example, in a smaller cushion form case, No. 198095 appeared at auction for the first time in 2010 and another platinum cushion repeater, No. 198378 appeared at auction over 20 years ago. At this early date, very few minute repeating wristwatches were manufactured by Patek Philippe. It is thought that the earliest minute repeater built as a wristwatch was created in 1906, but may have never been cased. From 1925, the sale of minute repeating wristwatches can be traced and were made up until 1942. That said, there are only twelve today known from the earliest production period. It is not until post war times, in the late 1940s into the early 1950s, that Patek Philippe's production of minute repeaters was done in series and models were assigned reference numbers. Of further interest is the fact that this watch was delivered a year following Henry Graves, Jr.'s most famous watch commission for No. 198035, the Supercomplication. Today there are twelve Patek Philippe minute repeating wristwatches known from the early part of the 20th century. Of this group, only three have tonneau cases: two were made for Graves, and the third is known through a published archival photograph. The illustration is in Armbandurhen, Khalert, H., Mühe, R. and Brunner, G. p. 39. It should be noted that the first digit of the movement number is cut off in the photograph, however it is most likely 198306.
Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 863540, case No. 640999, Ref. 130, made in 1944, sold on December 10, 1945. Accompanied by the Extract from the Arch
Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 863540, case No. 640999, Ref. 130, made in 1944, sold on December 10, 1945. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives. Very fine and extremely rare 18K white gold gentleman's wristwatch with square button chronograph, register and tachometer and an 18K white gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by original fitted box. Accompanied by the Extract of the Archives. C. three-body, polished and brushed, concave lugs. D. two-tone matte silver with applied white gold Arabic numerals and bâton indexes, auxiliary seconds and 30-minute register dials, outer tachometer graduation. "Bâton" white gold hands. M. 13'''-130, rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 23 jewels, lever escapement, monometallic balance, 8 adjustments, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 33 mm.
A highly interesting and historically important stainless steel...
Rolex Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed First launched in 1965, reference 6240 was manufactured exclusively in stainless steel and featured an acrylic bezel that displayed the tachymeter. It was most notably the first "Cosmograph" wristwatch equipped with screw- down chronograph pushers, which provided improved water resistance. Produced for a few years only, reference 6240 eventually evolved to the well-known references 6263 and 6265.Most probably unique and incredibly important, this reference 6240 presents a completely novel and unprecedented way of understanding the "Cosmograph". To the best of our knowledge, there is no other timepiece that features this dial configuration.This dial also displays a color scheme that we never seen again anywhere in Rolex's production. Furthermore, its proportions are also quite unique, thanks to its oversized subsidiary dials that nearly touch the outer white seconds track. Any Cosmograph boasting oversized registers is called today a "Big Eye". This example's unicorn characteristics are underlined by the fact that the dial omits any Cosmographs and Oyster designation as well as any hint that it belongs to the Daytona family. This layout is truly unlike anything the market has ever seen before.The ancestor of the "Paul Newman", this timepiece was presumably created before exotic dials were serially produced and during a time when Rolex experimented with various design codes. Thus, "The Neanderthal" provides a rare window into the inner workings of Rolex, enabling collectors to first, imagine what could be, and second, peek into the firm's past to understand the conceptual development and visual history of the Cosmograph Daytona "Paul Newman" design.Other interesting features of note are the correct first series pushers, with the brass peeking through the pushers, having aged with patina over time giving the wristwatch a lot of character. The watch furthermore retains its original twinlock 700 series winding crown, characterized by only the Rolex coronet.
Patek philippe's first split-seconds chronograph wristwatch, no 124824
MOVEMENT• 12''' rhodium plated, especially flat Extra quality movement, straight line lever escapement, 23 jewels, 8 adjustments, bi-metallic compensation balance, the split second chronograph work likely to be produced by Victorin Piguet, the chronograph function controlled via the button on the band for start, stop and reset to zero, the split second hand function controlled via the winding crown DIAL• white enamel dial with painted black enamel Breguet numerals, subsidiary dials for constant seconds and rare 60 minute register, the outer chapter ring calibrated for 1/5th seconds in black enamel CASE• circular four-piece hinged Officer's style 18k yellow gold case, hinged gold cuvette, screw down bars with slender lugs, with an early 18k buckle MARKS• the dial, cuvette, movement and case signed, the case further stamped with French import marks and further stamped with another mark with PD with hour glass emblem above and ampersand (&) below Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives confirming date of sale on 13 October 1923. Within the pantheon of important vintage Patek Philippe watches, only a handful are of such importance and renown that they have obtained iconic status. The Patek Philippe split-seconds chronograph, no.124.824, belongs within this category and is, without question, one of the most famous and coveted of all Patek Philippe's vintage wristwatch production. This wristwatch first re-appeared to the public eye in 1999 when it was the cover lot of the The Art of Patek Philippe auction and sold by Antiquorum, November 14th 1999, lot 448. The purchase price broke all previous wristwatch records when this extraordinary split-seconds chronograph sold for nearly CHF 3 million, at the time the equivalent of $1,918,387. Antiquorum's auction catalogue chronicled that the watch "shed new light on the historic production of the Genevan House. It appeared five years prior to the official release of the split-seconds chronograph, making Patek Philippe the first manufacturer to have created this model". This timepiece is not only the world's earliest known split-seconds chronograph born as a wristwatch by any maker, but furthermore is considered the prototype for the split-seconds chronograph category. A combination that shows it as, not only of great importance within the history of Patek Philippe, but also within the development of this genre as a whole. It should also be noted that this timepiece is one of the earliest complicated wristwatches ever made by Patek Philippe and may be the earliest still remaining in private hands. • Patek Philippe's, and any maker's, earliest known split-seconds chronograph wristwatch • Smallest and flattest known split-seconds movement • Only split-seconds chronograph wristwatch known with enamel dial • Only known Patek Philippe vintage chronograph wristwatch with 60-minute counter • Inspiration for the contemporary Patek Philippe ref.5959 split-seconds chronograph wristwatch Extremely mechanically complex, the split-seconds chronograph is considered one of the three most challenging complications in the art of watch making and is consequently one of the most celebrated by collectors. Designed to time events commencing simultaneously but concluding at different times, the split-seconds chronograph, as we know it today, first appeared around 1880. The split-seconds mechanism employs two central chronograph seconds hands, most often controlled by two push buttons in the case side; the present watch features the rarer single button activation with split pusher above. One hand, the fly-back, can be stopped to register one event's duration then, in turn, reactivated to resynchronize with the chronograph hand; this will allow, for instance, the timing and registering of an intermediary stage. Thus the length of multiple events can be recorded. This complication proves extremely useful during sporting events with multiple competitors, whether it be a horse race, a car race or the 100 meter dash. One of the most interesting features of this watch is the 60-minute register, which is highly unusual. Patek Philippe chronograph minute registers are usually only calibrated to 30 minutes – indeed, our research suggests that this is the only vintage Patek Philippe wristwatch chronograph to have such a calibration. This wristwatch features an "Officer" style case with straight, screw-set lugs and rounded, hinged, four-piece case. This was one of the earliest wristwatch case designs to be used by Patek Philippe and is complimented by the use of a white enamel dial. Extraordinarily flat in design, the movement of No. 124.824 is the earliest and smallest split seconds chronograph wristwatch movement by Patek Philippe. Incredibly, the movement was so innovative that, 100 years later, it was pushed back into service as the working model for its contemporary cousin, the Ref. 5959 split seconds chronograph, which Patek Philippe introduced in 2005. It is interesting to compare the Ref. 5959's calibre 27 525 PS (12 CCR) movement with that of the present wristwatch, for the similarities are visually striking. Indeed, the similarities between the present wristwatch, No. 124.824, and the modern Ref. 5959 are not confined to the movement: the entire dial and case design are faithfully based upon the original No. 124.824 masterpiece. The production of the Ref. 5959, a century after No. 124.824 was begun, demonstrates the extraordinary status that Patek Philippe has accorded the present lot, their original split seconds chronograph wristwatch. Following the production of No. 124.824, further production and development of wrist chronographs did not begin until 1926, when Patek Philippe began using the ébauches (blank movements) of Victorin Piguet. Production of a split-seconds chronograph following the designs of the 13-lignes Louis-Elisée Piguet ébauche began in 1927. The economic crisis of 1929 slowed production and very few complicated wristwatches were made during the 1930s. This is perhaps unsurprising when one considers that the finished split-seconds chronograph was up to 50% more expensive than the simple chronograph. [Huber, M., Banbery, A., Patek Philippe Wristwatches, Vol. 2 Second Edition, p. 81]. The enamel dial on this wristwatch is of the highest quality and would have been produced by dial makers Stern Frères. The dial features a signature known as the so-called "block" layout which highlights the letters so that they form a perfect rectangle. This style can be found on other iconic Patek Philippe wristwatches such as the Henry Graves Minute Repeating Tonneau wristwatch, sold by Sotheby's New York, Lot 8, June 14, 2012. The same signature can also be found on the earliest known repeating wristwatch, see Huber M., Banbery A., Wristwatches, Vol. 2, Second Edition, p. 313, pl. 468a. Enamel dials are much preferred by collectors since, unlike metal dials, they are not susceptible to oxidation or water damage and, when well looked after, can retain their original finish indefinitely. The pure unblemished finish of the enamel dial remains as fresh in its appearance today as it would have appeared on the day of its original sale.
Highly important and extremely rare pink gold perpetual calendar...
Movement: cal. 13''' manual, 18 jewelsCase: 18k pink gold, snap-on case back Bracelet/Clasp/Buckle: 18k pink gold Patek Philippe buckleSize: 37.5 mm diameterSigned: case, dial and movement signed, dial further signed by retailerAccessories: Patek Philippe presentation box. Furthermore delivered with Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1971 and its subsequent sale on 31 October 1972 This exceptionally rare and highly important reference 2499 third series cased in pink gold and retailed by Tiffany is an outstanding wristwatch and is potentially the only one of its kind. The watch first surface at auction in 2005 where it was consigned by the original owner. The watch sold for over 750,000 US dollars and has been kept privately ever since. There are only six examples known of the third series dressed in pink gold. The present watch was manufactured in 1971 and sold in 1972. This example is considered to be one of the very best. The case is unpolished and in sensational condition. The case is extraordinary crisp, very original and the lugs are very sharp and fluted to the highest degree. There is a faint hallmark between the lugs at 6 oclock but like all other pink third series they are stamped in a very similar way. The dial is original and has seen no cosmetic intervention and the Tiffany and Co signature is stamped underneath the moon. In superb, unpolished and completely original, this 2499 pink competes at every level and must be considered one of the most beautiful and important watches they have ever made. Today the 2499 is the hottest and most sought after watches on the market and was first introduced in 1950 and made in five series until 1986. Consigned by a highly important collector Sothebys is delighted to present this watch to the market.
Patek Philippe. A unique and very important 18K gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases and indirect sweep centre seconds
Patek Philippe. A unique and very important 18K gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases and indirect sweep centre seconds Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, ref. 1526, movement no. 864'271, case no. 652'371, movement manufactured in 1942, completed and cased in 1948 Cal. 12'''120 nickel-finished lever movement, 20 jewels, bimetallic compensation balance, gold wheels, silvered matte dial, applied gold dot and Arabic numerals, outer railway five minute divisions, windows for day and month, subsidiary dial for date combined with constant seconds and moon phases, circular case, downturned lugs, snap on back, 18K gold Patek Philippe buckle, case, dial and movement signed 34 mm. diam.
Patek Philippe. An exceptionally fine, rare and important 18K gold two crown world time wristwatch with 24 hour indication and cloisonné enamel dial d
Patek Philippe. An exceptionally fine, rare and important 18K gold two crown world time wristwatch with 24 hour indication and cloisonné enamel dial depicting the North American continent Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, World Time model, ref. 2523, movement no. 722'706, case no. 306'205, manufactured in 1955 Cal. 12'''400 HU mechanical lever movement stamped twice with the Geneva seal, 18 jewels, polychrome cloisonné enamel dial depicting the North American continent, applied gold baton numerals, stylized gold hands, inner revolving ring calibrated for Arabic 24 hours divided into diurnal and nocturnal hours, outer silvered revolving ring with names of 42 cities from around the world and adjusted by crown at 9, large circular case, facetted lugs, snap on back, 18K gold Patek Philippe buckle, case, dial and movement signed 35.5 mm. diam.
Patek Philippe. An exceptionally important
Patek Philippe. An exceptionally important, possibly unique and previously unknown 18K gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, moon phases, black luminous military-style dial, luminous Alpha hands, engraved case back, formerly the property of His Majesty, King of Kings, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, ref. 2497, movement no. 888'058, case no. 679'792, manufactured in 1954 Movement: mechanical, cal. 27SC Q, stamped twice with the Geneva Seal, 18 jewels Dial: black matte, luminous Arabic and applied dot numerals, luminous Alpha hands, sweep centre seconds, outer fifth of a second combined with Arabic five minutes divisions, two windows for day and month in English, one subsidiary dial for date combined with aperture for moon phases Case: monogram engraved snap on back Signed: case, dial and movement Dimensions: 37 mm. diam. With: 18K gold Patek Philippe buckle, Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1954 with a monogram engraved to the case back according to a model given by the client and its subsequent sale on 12 October 1954.
Geneva, attributable to Frères Rochat, made for the Chinese market, circa 1820. Extremely rare and magnificent pair of gold and enamel pearl- and diam
Geneva, attributable to Frères Rochat, made for the Chinese market, circa 1820. Extremely rare and magnificent pair of gold and enamel pearl- and diamond-set singing bird pistols. C. Made entirely of gold and enamel in the form of a double-barreled flintlock pistol, conjoined hexagonal barrels in translucent dark blue enamel over flinqué with gold scrollwork simulating damascene work, the opening set with diamonds and terminating with hinged panel enameled on the outside with black enamel and inside painted with a bird among flowers, the gold pan sides with rectangular gold plaques with concave corners, one depicting a sleeping lion, the other an antelope with black enamel border in diamond-set frame, the bottom of the pan decorated with a pattern of alternating straps of gold and black enamel, the grips with translucent scarlet enamel over engine-turning with pearl-set rosette in the middle with rose-cut diamond in the center, lower edge set with half pearls, upper edge decorated with wreath of laurel leaves made of graduated half pearls and black enamel, the back of the grip decorated with gold and black enamel fine crossing pattern with scrolling set with graduated half pearls. The top edge set with half pearls, gold matted and engraved hammers, the head of the flint vise engraved with lions heads, gold vise nuts terminated with diamonds, agate flints, gold pan covers mirror polished inside and engraved with acanthus leaves on the outside with their springs terminating with diamonds, opening under the right pan cover for sound, three barrel-like ramrod pipes, the ramrod containing the key for the watch. M. Rectangular, two tier, each slightly different, 115 x 29 mm, brass, reversed fusee and chain, six cams set on the extension of the second wheel arbor controlling the sound (whistle), the birds movements (turning, flapping wings, opening the beak and moving tail) controlled by two cams set on the same arbor between the plates, unusual mechanism for lifting and retrieving the bird, where both functions have their own mechanisms, each with its own spring, circular bellows. Punched with unidentified mark on chain ring of one of the pistols. Dim. Length 145 mm., width 38 mm.
Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 964804, case No. 669507, Ref. 1415 HU (Heures Universelles). Production of this reference started in 1939
Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 964804, case No. 669507, Ref. 1415 HU (Heures Universelles). Production of this reference started in 1939. Very fine and extremely rare 18K pink gold "World Time" gentleman's wristwatch with polychrome cloisonné enamel dial representing the map of four continents: Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, with an 18K pink gold Patek Philippe buckle. C. three-body, solid, polished and brushed, hand-engraved revolving reeded bezel bearing the names of 41 cities in the world, teardrop lugs. D. in polychrome cloisonné enamel representing the map of four continents; applied pink gold indexes and Roman numerals, concentric, revolving dial in 24 hours for the nocturnal and diurnal hours. Pink gold fancy hands. M. cal. 12'''-400 HU, rhodium-plated, "fausses-côtes" decoration, 18 jewels, lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance adjusted for heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, Breguet balance spring, micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 31 mm.
Patek Philippe. An exceptionally fine and rare 18K pink gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with phases of the moon and baton numerals
Patek Philippe. An exceptionally fine and rare 18K pink gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with phases of the moon and baton numerals Signed Patek Philippe, Geneve, retailed by Gobbi Milano, ref. 2499, movement no. 868'609, case no. 696'521, manufactured in 1957 Cal. 13''' nickel-finished lever movement stamped twice with the Geneva seal, 23 jewels, bimetallic compensation balance, the silvered matte dial with applied pink gold baton numerals, gold dauphine hands, outer Arabic five minute divisions and tachymetre scale, two windows for day and month, three subsidiary dials indicating constant seconds, 30 minutes register and phases of the moon combined with date, in circular case with stepped downturned lugs, snap on back, 18K pink gold Patek Philippe buckle, case and movement signed by maker, dial signed by maker and retailer 36 mm. diam.
An extremely rare, attractive and exceptionally well preserved pink
Patek Philippe Case, dial, movement and buckle signed A general intake of breath, speeding pulse and lack of superlatives are the immediate reactions when first seeing this spectacular example of Patek Philippe's reference 2499.Made in 1971, this watch seems to have jumped directly into a time machine travelling directly to 2017, so immaculate is its condition. This achingly gorgeous timepiece's case is untouched, the dial is bedazzling and the movement is flawless.Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a quality. With the present reference 2499 superlatives are hard to find, is it the best? The most perfect? The most beautiful? For us, it is a mix of all these and so much more. It is a vision of beauty and grace woven from the same material as dreams. The case of present watch has never been polished, as evidenced by the large proportions of the case. The signature stepped lugs are powerful, the dial is pristine with the raised hard enamel writing perfectly intact and the movement has not been touched since it left the Patek Philippe ateliers in 1971.There are times when a particular complication is associated immediately with a brand. The perpetual calendar chronograph is unmistakably part of Patek Philippe's genetic code, a complication for which Patek Philippe has set the benchmark and of which is the undisputed leader. To fully understand this interlink, one must go back to the reference 1518 from 1941 when Patek Philippe launched its first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch, which also happened to be the world's first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch made in series.Reference 2499 replaced reference 1518 in 1951 and was made for a period of 34 years, until 1985, in four different series. A total of 349 pieces were made, making this a highly exclusive reference in the company's history.- First series: Square chronograph buttons, applied Arabic numerals and tachometer scale.- Second series: Round chronograph buttons, either applied baton or applied Arabic numerals and tachometer scale.- Third series: Round chronograph buttons, applied baton numerals and outer seconds divisions, as with the present timepiece.- Fourth series: Round chronograph buttons, applied baton numerals, outer seconds divisions and sapphire crystal.Only 6 examples of the reference 2499 third series in pink gold like the present gem are known. The present example with its two sided baton markers (as opposed to the usual four facets) and large pyramid indexes is only one of two known.The other five known examples of a third series reference 2499 are in some of the world's most elite private collections scattered over the globe, whether in Europe, Hong Hong or the East and West Coast of the United States.The arrival on the market of the present gem should not be taken lightly or underestimated. Certain collectors may want to wait until another example shows up on the market. However, considering the spectacularly untouched condition of the present watch there will not be another similar example. PERIOD
Patek Philippe. An exceptionally rare and highly important 18K pink gold two crown world time wristwatch with 24 hour indication and blue enamel dial
Patek Philippe. An exceptionally rare and highly important 18K pink gold two crown world time wristwatch with 24 hour indication and blue enamel dial Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, retailed by Gobbi, Milan, ref. 2523, movement no. 722'715, case no. 306'216, manufactured in 1953 Cal. 12'''400 HU nickel-finished lever movement stamped twice with the Geneva seal, 18 jewels, micrometer regulator, gold baton and Roman numerals on engine-turned gold chapter ring, translucent royal blue enamel centre, stylized gold hands, inner revolving ring calibrated for Arabic 24 hours divided into diurnal and nocturnal hours, outer silvered revolving ring with names of 40 cities from around the world and adjusted by crown at 9, large circular case, facetted lugs, snap on back, 18K pink gold Patek Philippe buckle, case and movement signed by maker, dial signed by maker and retailer 35.5 mm. diam.
Patek Philippe. An exceptionally fine and rare 18K pink gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases
Patek Philippe. An exceptionally fine and rare 18K pink gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE, GENÈVE, REF. 2499 FIRST SERIES, MOVEMENT NO. 868'249, CASE NO. 665'025, MANUFACTURED IN 1951 Cal. 13'''130 Q mechanical movement, 23 jewels, silvered dial, applied pink gold Arabic and dot numerals, pink gold feuille hands, railway Arabic five minute divisions combined with fifth of a second divisions, outer tachymetre scale, two windows for day and month, three subsidiary dials for constant seconds, 30 minutes register and phases of the moon combined with date, circular case, stepped downturned lugs, snap on back, 18K pink gold Patek Philippe buckle, case, dial and movement signed 36.2 mm. diam.
The Royal Presentation Mirror-Image Pair Geneva, Swiss, No. 2007 & 2008, the enamels depicting Affection & Innocence attributed to Jean-Abraham Liss
The Royal Presentation Mirror-Image Pair Geneva, Swiss, No. 2007 & 2008, the enamels depicting Affection & Innocence attributed to Jean-Abraham Lissignol (1749-1819) after an engraving by Francesco Bartolozzi, the cases No. 9703 & No. 9704 by Freres Oltramare (c. 1810/11 and 1826). Made circa 1815 for presentation in the name of King George III to the Chinese Emperor Jiaqing in 1816. An extraordinarily fine, magnificent and historically important, large, mirror-image pair of gold, painted on enamel and pearl-set, quarter-repeating pocket watches with special three-tone blued-steel decorated mirror-polished steel and gilt movements. Accompanied by the original morocco fitted presentation case, the lining embossed with the arms of King George III and a gold and painted on enamel key. C. Four-body, of unusual form, by Freres Oltramare, master mark FO, the full width of the band entirely set with large splitpearls giving a bowed effect, the bezel, pendant and bow entirely set with split pearls, the back cover with an extremely finely painted on enamel scene of Affection & Innocence, in mirror image to the second watch, large split pearl-set border. Hinged gold-rimmed glazed cuvette to view the movement. D.White enamel with bold radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel lozenge hands. M. 52 mm., 23, unusual three-tone, gilt brass, mirror-polished steel and blued steel, Lepine-type calibre, brass plate and going barrel finely engraved with scrolling foliage, mirror-polished steel bridges and cocks, to the surfaces of which have applied finely pierced and chased blued steel foliate decoration, brass pivot bushes, jeweled cylinder escapement with steel escape wheel, three-arm balance with polished steel rim, flat balance spring, index regulator, repeating with two hammers on two square-section polished steel gongs activated by depressing the pendant. Diam. 62 mm.
Watches & Clocks
Watches for men and women, pocket watches, grandfather clocks, wall clocks and table clocks can be found up for auction in this category. You can find vintage watches as well as fashionable design watches for every taste at our clock auctions.