Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 12, 1997

LOT 603

Patek Philippe & Cie, Geneve, No. 817624, case No. 606797, made in 1928, sold on 13 June 1929, retailed by Eberhard Milan. Extremely fine and rare, "a couvercle", square, 18K white and yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with concealed dial.

CHF 250,000 - 300,000

C. bicolour, massive, polished, the yellow gold cover, opening by the means of two push-pieces on the side, is decorated with two white gold stripes, engraved band, white gold lugs. D. champagne with painted Arabic numerals + auxiliary seconds dial. "Spade " blued steel hands. M. 9"' gilt brass, 18 jewels, lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, flat balancespring. Dial, case and movement signed. In excellent condition. Dim. 26 x 35 mm.


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Probably unique, know to exist, made by Patek Philippe, this watch was sold by Antiquorum in April 1994, lot 429. " Montres bracelets a couvercle " Shortly after 1920, the wristwatches were selling better than the pocket watches, most eminent designers and makers were keen to find for sport and everyday wristwatches, an equivalent to the popular hunting cased pocket watches which can easily be personalised with a monogram or enamelled decoration on the cover. Cartier and Verger, in France, used improvements such as the guillotine with sliding shutters, already invented for dress watches, and Leon Hatot, with the Montle Inure/et oewrante having a spring loaded hinged cover, presented his own solution. The latter' s solution was also adopted by most of the Swiss designers such as Wenger, Niton as well as those working for Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe. In this respect, one of the most successful solutions was that of the celebrated Reverso invented by Rene Chauvot (French Patent No. 712868 from March 4th, 1931), first produced by Fontainemelon S. A., often retailed by Giibelin, was then acquired by Jaeger LeCoultre. The cases of most of the watches with concealed dial, produced between 1920 and 1935, were of high quality, often with engraved decoration on the hand and bezel, the cover made sometime in two coloured golcl with geometrical decoration in an Art-Deco pattern.