Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong, Jul 10, 2005

LOT 333

?Torpedo? Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 178461, case No. 503967. The movement made in 1913, completed 1918-1921 and cased in 1936. Sold October 22, 1936. Fine, rare and unusual, ?Staybrite? stainless steel desk timepiece with power reserve indication, and original leather covered folding case. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives and the Bulletin from the Geneva Observatory.

HKD 150,000 - 200,000

EUR 15,000 - 20,000 / USD 20,000 - 25,000

Sold: HKD 161,000

C. Three-body, polished, curved bezel, screwed down case back,mounted in a square leather covered folding case. D. Brushedsilvered with upright Arabic numerals and outer minutetrack, subsidiary seconds below 12 and power reserve scaleabove 6 calibrated from 0 ? 36. Blued steel ?Alpha? hands.M. 22???, frosted gilt, ?Extra?, wolf?s tooth winding, jewelled tothe centre wheel, stamped twice with the Seal of Geneva QualityMark, counterpoised straight line lever escapement, cut bimetalliccompensation balance with gold temperature screws andplatinum meantime screws, blued steel Breguet balance-spring,diamond endstones, swan-neck micrometer regulator.Dial, movement and case signed. The movement numberedthree times.Diameter of bezel 78 mm., case dim. 109 x 107 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 4 - 6
Movement: 3

Good
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

According to the Patek Philippe archives, the official rating certificate for this watch was obtained on 14th January 1920. The style, quality and portability of this timepiece would suggest use in a military capacity and the date of manufacture is of course during the First World War. Staybrite Is the name of a steel alloy containing 0.2% carbon, 18% chromium and 8% nickel. It is a stainless material that takes a fine polish and is therefore often used for making watch cases. It is probably the type of stainless steel that has been most widely used by watch companies.