Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, May 08, 2010

LOT 304

Patek Philippe Ref.1579 ? With Patek Philippe Service History Documents from 1974-1994 Patek Philippe, Genève, movement No. 867798, case No. 660192, Ref. 1579. Made in 1949 and sold on October 18th, 1950. Very fine and rare, large, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with square button chronograph, register and tachometer, and an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by the original Certificate of Origin, Extract from the Archives, documented spare service dial from 1977 and service history documents and correspondence for the period 1974 to 1994.

CHF 80,000 - 120,000

USD 76,000 - 115,000 / EUR 56,000 - 85,000

C. Three-body, solid, polished, inclined bezel, faceted teardrop lugs, snap-on case back. D. Matte silver with applied yellow gold pyramidal indexes and yellow gold Arabic numerals at 12 and 6, subsidiary seconds and 30-minute register dials, outer minutes and fifths of a second track, outermost tachometer graduation. Yellow gold feuille 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, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness 12.5 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 3-10-01

Good

Patinated

HANDS Original

Notes

Provenance : Consigned by the original owner, this watch has never before been offered at auction. The present watch is exceptional due to the survival of the detailed Patek Philippe service history and correspondence dating from October 1974 to August 1994. Most importantly, the supply and fitting of the service dial is recorded as having taken place in November 1977. The owner subsequently decided to reinstate the original dial.
Due to its large size, Ref. 1579 is one of the most sought-after non water-resistant Patek Philippe chronographs.
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 white gold (extremely rare). Only three examples were made in platinum.