Exceptional horologic works of art

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Oct 11, 2003

LOT 549

Patek, Philippe & Cie., Genève, No. 191830, case No. 414550, circa 1930. Extremely fine and rare 18K gold hunting-cased pocket chronometer ?EXTRA? adjusted by F. Modoux for the 1931 Geneva Observatory Timing Contest, where it was awarded a ?Bulletin de 1ère Classe?

CHF 14,000 - 18,000

EUR 9,000 - 11,700

Sold: CHF 23,000

C. Four-body, ?bassine?, polished, gold hinged cuvette with Observatory inscription. D. White enamel, Breguet numerals, outer minute track, sunk subsidiary seconds. Blued steel ?spade? hands. M. 41 mm. (18''', 23 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement with ruby jeweled banking, anibal-brass Guillaume balance with ?winged? arms, gold temperature adjustment screws and platinum mean time screws, special alloy Breguet balance spring with Phillips inner and outer terminal curve, diamond endstone, ?swan-neck? micrometric regulator, wolf tooth winding.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 55 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

Extra quality watches were specially adjusted by such masters as Henri Wehrli, J. Golay-Audemars, F. Modoux, and C. Batifolier, who were the best paid workers in the watch industry. Watches adjusted by them, especially those, such as the current watch, which received prizes at the Observatory Contests, were several times more expensive than the standard production. The present watch is exceptionally well made, adjusted for the Observatory Contest, and engraved on the pillar plate and bridge with the serial number, which was one of the Observatory Contest rules. Every detail, such as the special Guillaume balance with small ?wings? at the arm for poising ?in the raw?, before the screws are put in, which assures that temperature compensation adjustment will not affect poising, superior polish of the steel parts, olive jewel holes, ruby banking pins and the very light undercut escape wheel with raised teeth, mark this watch as an exceptional piece of precision horology.gy.