Recently rediscovered, this clock was previously only known from archive photographs. It is highly important as one of the very fi rst solar clocks made in a cloisonné enamel case from the fi rst year of their production -1956. Furthermore, it is a very rare example of the earliest application of solar technology for civilian use and therefore a historically signifi cant object in the development of technology in the 20th Century. Patek Philippe had begun experimenting with Solar power before 1950 and after seven years of research and development the company produced its fi rst solar clock in 1953. Solar power was incredibly cutting-edge in the 1950s and these fi rst Patek Philippe clocks represented not only a major advancement in the application of that technology but even more signifi cantly these clocks were the very fi rst ever to be powered by anything other than a traditional mechanical movement.
Patek Philippe?s fi rst models of the solar clock produced impressive results and had an accuracy within one second per day. They could also function indefi nitely with only four hours of dim artifi cial light per day and run up to a year in complete darkness. Because of this initial success the company decided to make a more decorative case available and the fi rst models (including the present clock) were on sale in early 1956. In typical Patek Philippe style, the company chose to decorate the cases with fi ne and unique cloisonne enamel panels, the making of which was entrusted to the fi nest artists in enamel of the period. The present clock was decorated by Michel Deville (1924-2003) whose enamels transformed the solar clock into a work of art in its own right. Deville worked in a highly original style usually re-interpreting classical subjects in a uniquely 20th century way often infl uenced by Cubism and Surrealism. The exact subject of the present clock is obscure but the dome depicts a goddess, perhaps Artemis, the side panels show birds against geometric backgrounds seemingly with an allusion to the times of the day. The rare opportunity to examine such an early example of the Patek Philippe dome clock allows comparison to be made with later models and this has shown some subtle differences in the movement. The calibre 17???250 mechanical movement is as usual the basis for the construction. However, this early model has 28 jewels instead of 29 in all other examples and the balance is not Gyromax but cut-bimetallic and adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and fi ve positions. The clock works by collecting energy via the photo-electric cell, this transmits by two wires to a battery to store the energy. The 17???250 watch movement has in place of the former spring barrel a torque device that acts as a remontoire and winds the watch in short regular intervals so that the clock can run indefi nitely by this method.
The Extract from the Archives for the present clock states that it was a gift from the Geneva Authorities to the City of Moscow in May, 1956. The plaque on the dial was originally inscribed ?Les Autorités de Genève à la Ville de Moscou ? Mai 56?. It is not known to whom the clock then passed but shortly afterwards it was re-dedicated and given as the prize for the Dragon Gold Cup of 1956.
Dragon Gold Cup 1956 The Dragon Gold Cup is one of the most famous trophies in the history of yachting. It was presented in 1937 by Members of the Clyde Yacht Clubs? Conference in Scotland. The dragon class has traditionally attracted royalties and the best yachtsmen in the world. The Greek King Constantine won the Olympic gold medal in the dragon class in Naples 1960, and in the 1950´ies Prince Philip owned the famous dragon ?Bluebottle?. The Danish Prince Consort Henrik has sailed his dragons for almost 40 years and his son Crown Prince Frederic of Denmark is now a successful dragon sailor on international level.
The Dragon Gold Cup has been taken place yearly since 1937 on top sailing venues all over Europe. In 1956 it was sailed on the river Clyde in Scotland and the winner was the Danish dragon ?Lil? owned and skippered by the late Consul Thorkil Warrer with his crew of Börge Börresen and Gustav Funder. Thorkil Warrer also won the Gold Cup in 1951. All Consul Warrers´ 7 dragons were built by his regular crew Börge Börresen at his famous yard in Vejle Denmark, where Consul Warrer also lived. He served as a team captain of the Danish sailing team at the Olympics in Rome/Naples 1960. After Consul Warrer´s death in 1961 Börge Börresen took over the helm and won the Dragon Gold Cup in 1967 and 1985.
Consul Warrer´s son Peter Warrer is also a keen dragon sailor sailing his dragon ?Lil? at several Gold Cups. He served as a vice chairman for the International Dragon Association 2005-2009. Peter Warrer´s son, Jonas Warrer, took an Olympic Gold medal at the Beijing Olympics 2008 with his crew Martin Kirketerp in the 49er class after a highly dramatic medal race, where they broke their mast 40 minutes before the start and had to fi nalize the race in a borrowed Croatian boat.