Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Oct 19, 2012

LOT 322

PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5101 10 DAY TOURBILLON PLATINUM Patek Philippe, Genève, 10 Days Tourbillon, movement No. 3361259, case No. 4353980, Ref. 5101P. Sold on September 8th , 2006. Extremely fine and very rare, rectangular and curved, Art Deco style platinum and diamond chronometer wristwatch with one-minute tourbillon regulator, tandem mainspring barrels for 10-day power-reserve and a platinum Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by the Certificate of Origin, chronometer rating certificate, instructions in a leather folder, and the original wood fitted box.

HKD 1,300,000 - 1,700,000

USD 165,000 - 220,000 / EUR 130,000 - 170,000

Sold: HKD 1,556,000

C. Two-body, solid, polished, stepped curved sides, sapphire case back with 4 screws, Top Wesselton diamond set between the lugs at 6, sapphire crystal. D. Salmon-colored with applied black oxidized gold Breguet numerals, subsidiary seconds dial. Black oxidized gold feuille hands. M. Cal. TO 28-20/222, rectangular, stamped with the Seal of Geneva Quality Mark, rhodiumplated, fausses cotes decoration, 29 jewels, 6 of which are set in gold chatons, tandem mainspring barrels, lateral lever escapement with one-minute tourbillon regulator with A-shaped cage under a polished steel bridge, Gyromax balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour, shock absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 30 x 52 mm. Thickness 12 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-9-19

Good

Scratched

Dent(s)
Movement: 1*

As new

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

What is a Tourbillon Regulator? A Tourbillon is a regulating mechanism in which the escapement of a movement is housed within a revolving carriage. It was developed in an effort to attain better precision. When a watch is in a vertical position, the force of gravity will speed the balance wheel as it moves in its downward (arc) direction and slow it as it moves upward, creating deviational errors of timekeeping. By placing the balance and escapement in a carriage that revolves 360° per minute, these errors become averaged and the timekeeping becomes constant and consequently adjustable. Created by Abraham Louis Breguet in 1795, the tourbillon is considered a diffi cult and complex achievement by any watch manufacturer.