Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

New York, Omni Berkshire Place Hotel, Jun 20, 1998

LOT 135

Patek Philippe & Cie, Geneve, No. 863791, case No. 630551, Ref. 1563, made in 1946, sold on 28 July 1948 to Duke Ellington. Extremely rare and historical, waterproof, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with round button split- second chronograph, register and tachometer.

USD 150,000 - 180,000

Sold: USD 673,500

C. massive, polished, screwed back, dust protecting cap. D. matt silver with applied gold indexes and Roman numerals + auxiliary seconds and 30 minutes register dials, outer tachometer graduation. " Feuille " gold- hands. M. 13"' rhodium plated, "fausses cotes" decoration, 25 jewels, lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, 8 adjustments, Breguet balancearound spring, micrometer regulator, the winding-crown is also for the stop and reunite functions of the splitsecond hand. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 35 mm. Accompanied by Extract from the Archives.


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Grading System
Case: 15-35

Slightly rusted

To be restored
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-51

Very good

Partially reprinted

Notes

Split-second chronograph wristwatches were the must of Patek Philippe technology and were generally cased with the Ref. 1436. The majority are in yellow gold, very few in white* gold, three examples only in stainless steel are known today. Split-second chronographs with a waterproof case and round push buttons are extremely rare. They have the Reference 1563 and were produced in the 1940's. Only three examples in yellow gold are known to exist today.