Exceptional Horological Works of Art

Geneva, Oct 19, 2002

LOT 6

Patek Philippe & Cie., Genève, "Mon-tre de Torpilleur" No. 193445, case No. 625963, Ref. 738, made in 1931, sold on April 18,1942. Exceptionally fine and rare silver, key-less, "Extra" adjusted pocket chronometer, awarded Second Prize at the 1931 Geneva Observatory Timing Contest. Accompanied by Extract from the Archives, Observatory of Geneva certificate and copies of the Bulletin de Marche.

CHF 12,000 - 15,000

EUR 8,000 - 10,000

Sold: CHF 29,900

C. Four-body, "bassine", polished, silver hinged cuvette. D. Silver, matted and whitened, champlevé radial Arabic numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary sunk seconds. Blued steel spade hands. M. 42 mm. (18???), nickel, "fausses côtes" decoration, pillar plate under the dial with "oeil de perdrix" finishing, 23 jewels, 8 adjustments, very high quality straight line calibrated equidistant lever escapement, anibal-brass Guillaume compensation balance with poising wings on the balance arm and gold temperature and mean screws, special alloy Breguet balance spring with inner and outer terminal curves, ruby banking pins in shape of small plates inserted into the bridge, punched twice with Seal of Geneva Quality marks, "swan-neck" micrometric regulator, special mainspring ratchet wheel click preventing overwinding and Maltese Cross stop work. Signed on dial, case and movement, case punched with Swiss and German silver marks, indicating that the watch was exported to Germany. Diam. 60 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 4 - 6 - 01

Notes

The present lot is one of the highest quality Patek Philippe watches destined for the Observatory trials. Many details are worth noting: the special click, the special Guillaume balance with small "wings" for poising "in the raw" before the screws are placed, the superior polish of the steel parts, the beveled jewel holes, the very delicate undercut escape wheel with raised teeth, the ruby banking pins. It was timed by Henri Wehrli, a legendary master adjuster who won many awards.