Important Collectors Wristwatches, P...
New York, Dec 05, 2007
LOT 391
Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 111925. Made in 1900, sold on August 5, 1901. Very fine and very rare, extra-large, silver, keyless pocket watch. Accompanied by the original fitted box, spare crystal and the original Certificat d'Origine and an Extract from the Archives.
USD 6,000 - 9,000
EUR 4,000 - 6,000
Sold: USD 47,200
C. Four-body, "bassine", massive, polished. Hinged silver cuvette. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel lozenge and heart hands. M. 34 1/2''', engraved ?A?, frosted gilt, 13 jewels, wolf's tooth winding, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with temperature and meantime adjustment screws, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Dial and cuvette signed. Diam. 96 mm. Property of Various Owners
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: |
|
Case: 3 |
Good |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 2-01 |
Very good HANDS Original |
Notes
On one such pass, he traveled to Paris to visit the Paris Flea Market where he found this Patek pocket watch. He did not have enough money on that occasion to purchase the watch.
With the idea that he could return to Paris and purchase the watch on a subsequent trip, the consigner, a non-smoker, saved his ration of American cigarettes. He carried his suitcase full of cartons of cigarettes (estimated at $65.00) to the Flea Market and traded them for the watch.
In the days following his purchase, the owner was examining the watch display case when he discovered a compartment that contained the original bill of sale and a spare crystal still bearing the pencil written case number on the protective paper wrap. He wrote to Patek to obtain further information regarding the provenance. He received a letter from Patek in 1953 that described the timepiece as "No. 111925 of our make in silver, was a very big bassine type pocket watch size 34" 1/2, sold in August 1901 to Prince de Polignac at the price of Fr.900".
The present lot, 96 mm. in diameter, as compared with lot 307, 56 mm. in diameter. 389
Camille Armand Jules Marie, Prince de Polignac (1832-1913)
Born in France, he was a distant relative of the Grimaldi family of Monaco. Polignac left his mark on American history as a General for the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.. Upon returning to France after the Civil War, he joined the French army as a General in the Franco-Prussian War. A highly educated scholar, especially in the areas of mathematics, geography, and music, he continued his passionate search for knowledge until his death in Paris in 1913.