The Private Collection of Theodor Beyer

Hotel Baur Au Lac, Zurich, Nov 16, 2003

LOT 107

Patek, Philippe & Cie., Genève, No. 177473, case No. 600580, manufactured in 1913. Extremely fine and rare 18K gold keyless pocket chronometer "EXTRA", with specially adjusted Guillaume balance. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

CHF 8,000 - 10,000

EUR 5,200 - 10,000 / USD 6,000 - 7,400

C. Four-body, "bassine", back with monogram "LJC", polished band and bezel, hinged gold cuvette with dedication. D. White enamel, Breguet numerals, outer minute track, outermost red Arabic five minutes/seconds, sunk subsidiary seconds. Gold "Louis XV" hands. M. 40 mm. (18'''), 21 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement, anibal-brass Guillaume balance with "winged" arms, gold temperature adjustment screws and platinum mean time screws, special alloy Breguet balance spring with inner and outer terminal curve, swan-neck micrometer regulator.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 57 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3

Good

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

"Extra" quality watches were made to the highest possible standards and 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 awarded prizes at the Observatory Contests, were several times more expensive than the regular ones. The present watch is exceptionally well made, almost certainly adjusted for an Observatory Contest, and engraved on the pillar plate and bridge with the serial number, which was one of the prerequisites of the Observatory Contest rules. Every detail, such as the specially adjusted 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, the superior polish of the steel parts, the olive jewel holes, and the very light undercut escape wheel with raised teeth, shows that the watch was a special one.