Exceptional horologic works of art

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Oct 11, 2003

LOT 146

Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 198102, case No. 613706, Ref. 130, completed in 1927, sold in 1935. Very important and extremely rare, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with single button chronograph by the winding-crown, unusual vertical auxiliary second- and register- dials, the rarest "Base 100" tachometer and with an original 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe bracelet "à grosses mailles". Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

CHF 0 - 0

EUR 0 - 0

Sold: CHF 663,500

C. three-body, solid, polished, concave bezel and lugs. D. matte silver with painted Arabic numerals at the center, vertical auxiliary second- and 30 minute- register dials, outer tachometer graduation "base 100" and tachometer index scales, concentric, 1/5th second scale. Blued steel "Lozenge" hands. M. Cal. 13''', rhodium-plated, “fausses-côtes” decoration, 27 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, flat balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 33 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3

Good
Dial: 3 - 01-

Notes

This is the oldest known example of Ref. 130. Previously it was thought that production of the reference began in the 1930s, however the Patek Philippe archives record this watch as having been completed three years earlier, in 1927. The movement number immediately preceding this one, No. 198101, with oversized stainless steel case, was sold by Antiquorum in November 2001, lot 82. This watch is also the first Patek Philippe chronograph to be offered at auction with its original gold bracelet. Patek Philippe single-button chronograph wristwatches with vertical register are extremely rare. Most tachometers are either base 1000, 3000, 1 mile, or graduated for 15, 30 or 50 pulsations. The present watch is the only known example of a base 100 tachometer. Ref. 130 is the most popular and the oldest Patek Philippe chronograph. The reference has also been used for a split-seconds chronograph.