The Collection of a European Nobleman
Geneva, May 11, 2008
LOT 15
Ref. 5125, Wempe 125th Anniversary Patek Philippe, Genève, retailed by Wempe, No. 027/ 100, movement No. 3360277, case No. 4215606, Ref. 5125P. Made in a limited edition of 100 pieces in 2003 to commemorate Wempe?s 125th anniversary. Sold on July 2, 2003. Very fine and very rare, center-seconds, self-winding, waterresistant platinum wristwatch with semi-instantaneous digital triple date annual calendar, moon phases and 24 hour indication, with a platinum Patek Philippe deployant clasp. Accompanied by Certificate of Origin, an additional transparent case back, setting pin and booklet.
CHF 80,000 - 120,000
EUR 50,000 - 75,000 / USD 80,000 - 120,000
Sold: CHF 102,000
C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, case back engraved "Patek Philippe - 125 Jahre Wempe", protected screw-down winding crown, concave lugs, sapphire crystal. D. Black with applied white gold baton indexes, subsidiary dial for the 24-hour indication, apertures for the date, the days of the week, the months and the moon phases. White gold dauphine hands. M. Cal. 315-203, stamped with the Seal of Geneva Quality Mark, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 35 jewels, straight line lever escapement, Gyromax balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating free-sprung flat balance spring, 21K gold rotor. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 37 mm. Thickness 11 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: |
|
Case: 2 |
Very good |
Movement: 1 |
As new |
Dial: 1-01 |
As new HANDS Original |
Notes
Wempe In 1878, with 80 Marks in his pocket, young watchmaker Gerhard D. Wempe opened a watch and jewelry business in his aunt Caroline?s house in the small German town of Elsfleth close to Bremen. Business went well for the young entrepreneur and in the years to come he moved his venture to Oldenburg and finally to Hamburg, where he established the ?Stammhaus? or ?flagship store? of the company in 1907. In 1914 Wempe had opened 4 more stores in Hamburg, but with World War I sales dropped considerably. When Gerhard D. Wempe died in 1921, his son Herbert took over, concentrating on exclusive connections to Swiss watch brands like Omega and Longines and further extending the business, buying in 1938 the famous ?Hamburger Chronometer werke? factory, an important manufacturer of ships? chronometers still in existence today, producing high precision nautical instruments. World War II again brought personal and professional difficulties. In 1945 the company?s management was handed over to a trustee, and in 1951, Helmut, the 19 year-old son, had to take over the business. By 1953 Wempe again had 5 stores in Hamburg, and by the 1960?s there were stores in several German cities as well. In 1980 Wempe entered the international scene with the opening of its US flagship store on New York?s Fifth Avenue, followed by stores in Paris, Vienna, London and Madrid. Since 2003 daughter Kim-Eva Wempe, who joined the company in 1987, officially heads it. Wempe is Germany?s most respected watch and jewelry retailer with over 500 employees and 26 branches worldwide, also operating in Hamburg the largest watch repair and service facility of any European retailer.