Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Monaco, Jul 13, 2024

LOT 179

PATEK PHILIPPE, SWITZERLAND, REF. 1485, ETANCHE, SQUARE, WATER RESISTANT, STAINLESS STEEL

EUR 4,000 - 8,000

CHF 3,900 - 7,700 / HKD 33,500 - 67,000 / USD 4,300 - 8,600

Sold: EUR 7,872

A very fine and rare, stainless steel, manual wind square gentleman's wristwatch with special sliding strips on each side for water tightness of the case. Swiss patent 207378. The patent for this new case was registered on 25th August 1938 as Swiss patent CH 207378, and published 31st October 1939.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-8

Good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-53-01

Good

Reprinted

HANDS Original

Brand Patek Philippe, Switzerland

Model Etanche

Reference 1485

Year Sold in November 1941

Movement No. 910.332

Case No. 621.639

Length 27

Caliber 10'''110, lever escapment

Width 35

Signature Dial, case and movement

Accessories Extract from the Archives

Notes

The reference 1485 was launched in 1940. This reference was produced exclusively in stainless steel, while the reference 1486 was the gold version. These references were the first square waterproof watches produced by Patek Philippe. The reference 1485 was made in two series, with a total production of about 200 pieces. The first series is equipped with a calibre 10-110 or 10-105, and the second series is equipped with a calibre 10-200.

The case is assembled using a clever patented mechanism from Taubert, the case maker. The case is split into two pieces, the front and the back, and is held together by sliding strips on the sides.

In the 1920s and 1930s, under the influence of the Art Deco movement, rectangular watches became fashionable. To respond to this trend, the Tauberts designed a new rectangular watch case with a unique feature: it had to be waterproof.