Exceptional Horological Works of Art

Geneva, Oct 19, 2002

LOT 108

Patek, Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 47014, case No. 47014, made in 1870, sold to Mr. E. Bonneault on July 14, 1880. Very fine and rare 18K gold, double-train, independent dead seconds, keyless watch, accompanied by Patek, Philippe Certificate.

CHF 20,000 - 25,000

EUR 14,000 - 18,000

Sold: CHF 43,700

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", engine-turned back cover, reeded band, gold hinged cuvette, bolt at 2 o?clock on the band to prevent accidental stopping of independent seconds. D. White enamel, Roman chapters, outer minute divisions, gold paste-set hands. M. 45 mm. (20???), gilt brass, straight line counterpoised lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, 27 jewels, a flirt mounted on the last pinion of the independent dead seconds train engages escape wheel pinion allowing one-second jumps, tandem winding. Signed on the case. Diam. 53 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 14
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

The independent dead seconds mechanism in which the movement has two trains, one conventional, and the second with a sweep second hand which can be stopped without stopping the main train, was invented by Moise Pouzait in Geneva in 1776. Adrien Philippe?s independent dead seconds mechanism differs radically from the conventional one, based on Pouzait?s design. Philippe moved the entire "independent" train over the center bridge, allowing more room for the going train and the balance, which is larger, allowing for better timekeeping. There are fewer than two dozen recorded independent dead second watches by Patek Philippe, including the very first ones made by Patek and Czapek. This watch incorporates Adrien Philippe?s two patents regarding tandem winding: the first, for a "free", or "slipping" mainspring, patented on June 16, 1863 in France, and the second, patented ten years after this watch was made, for winding two mainsprings with one crown, Swiss patent No. 1017 of May 23, 1889. Another unusual feature of this watch is its dial; Patek Philippe used elaborate multicolored dials extremely rarely. A virtually identical movement, but much later (No. 174021), is illustrated in "Patek Philippe, Genève", by Martin Huber and Alan Banbery, p.195.