Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

New York, Jun 10, 2010

LOT 101

Patek Ph ilippe - Ref. 130 - Yellow Gold - Chronograph Patek Philippe & Co., Genève, movement No. 863330, case No. 635776. Ref. 130. Made in 1943 and sold on June 27th, 1945. Very fine and rare, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with square button chronograph, register, tachometer and an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

USD 30,000 - 50,000

EUR 25,000 - 40,000 / CHF 35,000 - 55,000

Sold: USD 39,600

C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, inclined bezel, concave lugs, snap-on case back engraved: Samuel O. Morrison Aug. 11, 1882 Xmas 1945. D. Champagne with applied yellow gold Breguet numerals, outer minute and 1/5th second track, subsidiary dials for the seconds and 30-minute register, outermost tachometer scale to 300 UPH. Yellow gold feuille hands. M. Cal. 13''', rhodium plated, fausses cotes decoration, 23 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance with 8 adjustments, self-compensating steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness 11 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3-6*

Good

Slightly oxidized

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Samuel Oliver Morrison was founder and chairman of the Sunroc Refrigeration Co. Inc. Established in 1935 and managed entirely by his family, with his wife as Executive Vice president, oldest son as President and treasurer, daughter as company secretary and youngest son as Vice President. The Sunroc Company reflects the traditional American dream that hard work gains rewards. After working 25 years in various positions in the restaurant business Sam's wife persuaded him to leave when she discovered an acquaintance was doing well selling natural spring water. In 1922 Sam established the Sunroc Spring Water Co. in Pine Ridge just outside Philadelphia. Business expanded until the introduction of the water cooler, which, although unreliable, was luring customers away. Rather than maintain a dwindling business, in 1935 the Morrison family decided to manufacture their own water coolers. In 1945 Sunroc Refrigeration produced 14,500 units, approximately one fifth the total ever made in the US in any year, becoming a leader in their field with a total gross profit of two million dollars. Source; Forbes Magazine, October 1946
Ref. 130. Production of this reference started in 1934. It was made in stainless steel, yellow gold and pink gold; only three are known in white gold. It is one of the most desirable and sought-after sport watches ever created by the Patek Philippe firm. Sophisticated collectors appreciate this model?s perfect proportions, its large and clearly-read dial, encircled by a slender, concave bezel which gives the dial an even greater luminosity. It is very rare to find a chronograph with a single button. Reference 130 usually has one button at 2 o'clock and another at 4 o'clock. Only a very few examples were made with a single button on the crown. This reference was first used with Victorin Piguet ebauches, and later with Lemania ebauches. To date, one example is known of a single-button chronograph with Ref. 130, that features an experimental 12??? movement. Reference 130 was made with either Breguet numerals, Roman, Arabic, or mixed numerals.