Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Nov 16, 2008

LOT 330

Minute-Repeater Sold to Mrs J.W. Packard Patek Philippe, Geneve,movement No. 138227, case No. 255094.Made on special request in 1908 and sold on June 14, 1909 as a pendant watch to Mrs J.W. Packard by Bailey, Banks & Biddle Co., Philadelphia, made into a wristwatch at her special request by the Stern Agency of New York and returned to her via Bailey, Banks & Biddle on May 4, 1931. Accompanied by the Extract form the Archives and correspondence from Bailey, Banks & Biddle detailing the history of the watch. Very fine and very rare, minute-repeating, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle.

CHF 320,000 - 370,000

USD 300,000 - 340,000 / EUR 200,000 - 230,000

C. Three-body, polished, stepped and curved bezel, concave lugs, back with stepped and curved edge to match the bezel, repeat slide in the band. D. Matte off-white painted with applied yellow gold baton hour indexes, outer black painted minute divisions. Yellow gold dauphine hands.M. 12???, ?Special?, rhodium plated, fausses cotes decoration, 29 jewels, wolf?s tooth winding, counterpoised straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a slide on the band. Dial, case and movement signed, movement also signed for Bailey, Banks & Biddle and engraved ?Special?. Diam. 34 mm. Thickness 11 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-8-16

Good

Slightly scratched

Rusted
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

The Packard family were no strangers to ordering watches from Patek Philippe, in fact they were one of the company?s best customers in the early 20th century. Subsequently Patek Philippe were happy to make watches to their individual specifications. This watch was originally sold to Mrs Packard as a pendant watch by Bailey, Banks & Biddle of Philadelphia, Mrs Packard was at the time the chairman of the company that owned the Packard Building at 1530 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, where the main offices of Bailey, Banks & Biddle have been located since the building?s construction. The watch was subsequently returned (after the death of J.W. Packard) to Bailey, Banks & Biddle and sent to Patek Philippe?s sole agent in the U.S., the Stern Agency in New York. At this time the pendant watch was made into a wristwatch using all original factory parts, the watch was returned to Mrs Packard on May 4, 1931.