Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Mar 16, 2014

LOT 382

PATEK PHILIPPE OBSERVATORY, LUMINOUS DIAL Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, "Calatrava Observatory type", No. 122929, case No. 612619, Ref. 96 Produced in 1903, sold on February 5th, 1936. Possibly unique and extremely fine and rare stainless steel Staybrite wristwatch with subsidiary seconds dial at 9. Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives.

CHF 20,000 - 40,000

HKD 175,000 - 350,000 / USD 22,000 - 45,000

Sold: CHF 111,750

Three-body, polished and brushed, flat bezel, concave lugs. Satiné silver with applied steel indexes, outer minute graduation, guilloché subsidiary seconds dial. Luminous hands. Cal. 12''', gilt brass, 18 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, Breguet balance spring, Wilmot's patented micrometer regulator.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2-8

Very good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-8-25-01

Very good

Slightly scratched

Chipped

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 31 mm. THICKNESS 10 mm. Property of a Swiss family Unknown and never offered at auction before, the watch has remained in the hands of the original family for the past 70 years. Only four cases number apart from a similar watch Antiquorum offered in the last November 2011 sale (Lot 330), this watch differs due the fact that the Patek signature has been moved at 3 o clock to perfectly match the unusual subsidiary seconds dial at 9 o clock. It is even more attractive to collectors due to the fact that it has a military type dial with luminous dots and hands, a configuration not seen at auction before. According to the extract from the archives, the watch returned to the manufacture in 1935, where it was fitted with the current case. The ultimate addition to the collector of rare calatravas.