Important Watches, Collectors’ Wristw...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Nov 14, 2004

LOT 91

Patek, Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 125299, case No. 240637, made in 1905 and sold on July 29, 1911. Extremely fine silver deck lever chronometer adjusted for the 1908 Geneva Observatory Timing Contest, with 36-hour power reserve indicator and Guillaume balance. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

CHF 20,000 - 25,000

EUR 13,000 - 16,000 / USD 16,000 - 20,000

Sold: CHF 29,900

C. Four-body, ?bassine?, polished, silver hinged cuvette. D. Heavy, solid silver, bold champlevé radial Roman numerals, outer champlevé minute track, champlevé up-and-down sector at 12, champlevé subsidiary seconds. Blued-steel ?spade? hands. M. 47 mm. (21??) Cal. 18o, 20 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement, anibal-brass Guillaume balance with ?winged? arms, gold temperature adjustment screws and platinum mean time ones, special alloy Breguet balance spring inner and outer terminal curves, diamond endstone, ?swan-neck? micrometric regulator. Signed on dial, case and movement.Diam. 60 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

Patek Philippe?s large movements with 18o, and more rarely with 18H calibers, were made to the highest possible standards. They were 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 they adjusted, and particularly those awarded prizes at Observatory Contests, were several times more expensive than the regular production. The present watches, lots 91 and 92, are exceptionally well made and adjusted for the Observatory Contests. 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, the superior polish of the steel parts, the olive jewel holes, and the very light undercut escape wheel with raised teeth, shows that these watches were special ones. For a note on Guillaume balance, see lot 92.