Important Watches

Geneva, Mar 20, 2010

LOT 331

Patek Philippe French 1579 Patek Philippe, Genève, movement No. 867258. Case made by Guillermin Mollet, Patek Philippe?s main Paris agent, in the style of a Ref. 1579, No. 67. Movement made in 1947 and sold on September 2nd, 1948. Very fine and rare, oversized 18K yellow gold wristwatch with square button chronograph, register and tachometer, and an 18k yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

CHF 45,000 - 75,000

USD 42,000 - 70,000 / EUR 30,000 - 50,000

Sold: CHF 52,800

C. Three-body, solid, polished, sloped bezel, faceted teardrop lugs, snap-on case back. D. Matte silver with applied painted black baton indexes and gold Arabic numerals at 12 and 6, subsidiary seconds and 30-minute register dials, outer tachometer graduation. Yellow gold baton hands. M. 13''', rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 23-jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut-bimetallic balance, 8 adjustments, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator. Dial and movement signed Patek Philippe, case numbered 67 and signed PPCo. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness 12.5 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-10-01

Good

Patinated

HANDS Original

Notes

Due to its large size, Ref. 1579 is one of the most sought-after non water-resistant Patek Philippe chronographs. During the years following the Second World War, a customs regulation was temporarily introduced in France barring the importation of watch cases made of precious metals, in order to protect French craftsmen. During this period, Patek Philippe agents in France received only the watch movements and dials, while the watch cases themselves were produced in France. These cases were made either in the style of those produced by Patek Philippe, such as the present lot, or to the designs of the agent. The present lot has a case made by Guillermin Mollet, who were Patek Philippe?s main Paris agents and were the only company licensed to sign the cases ?PPcO? for Patek Philippe & Co.
Ref. 1579 Production of this reference began in 1943. It was produced in Staybrite (very rare); steel with pink gold lugs, bezel, and crown (extremely rare); yellow gold (standard production); and pink and in white gold (extremely rare). Only three examples were made in platinum.