Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Nov 16, 2008

LOT 332

Grande Complication Patek, Philippe & Cie., Genève, Ref. 959, movement No. 866781, case No. 2837631. Sold on March 1, 1993. Highly exceptional and extremely important, unique 18K yellow gold keyless two-train, Grande Complication Grande et Petite Sonnerie clockwatch with trip minute-repeating, split-seconds chronograph with visible works, instantaneous 30-minute register, instantaneous perpetual calendar with phases of themoon, and 24-hour indications. Accompanied by original leather fittedmahogany box, Certificate of Origin and setting instruction book.

C. Four-body, "bassine", massive, heavy, polished, gold glazed cuvette with sapphire glass, pushbutton for the split-seconds at 11, chronograph safety bolt at 11.30, switch from petite to grande sonnerie at 3, silent/striking switch at 9. D. White enamel, radial narrow Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, outermost fifths of a second divisions, four subsidiary dials for days of the week concentric with 24-hour indications, date concentric with seconds, months with leap-year cycle, phases of the moon and moon's age concentric with instantaneous 30-minute register. Blued steel spade hands. M. 45 mm (20'''), Cal. GC, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, two train with tandem winding, punched with Seal of Geneva Quality Mark, 44 jewels, adjusted to five positions, temperature and isochronism, straight-line calibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometric regulator, repeating on gongs by tripping a small slide in the band. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 61 mm.


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Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1

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Dial: 1-01

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HANDS Original

Notes

In the 1980s Patek Philippe made a very small number of "Grande Complication" watches, in the tradition of the celebrated one made during the last century, as exemplified by the famous "Gradowski" watch sold by Antiquorum on June 8-9, 2002, in Hong Kong, lot 423. While remaining faithful to tradition, these watches also benefit from the best that modern technology can offer. Each piece is slightly different, but all are based on the same 20''' movement. All are superbly finished and represent the ultimate in highly complicated timepieces. The Seal of Geneva Quality mark is a trademark of the Office of Geneva Control of Watches. It was established on November 6, 1886, amended several times with the largest change incorporated on December 10, 1955. Its function was to voluntarily control watches made in the Canton of Geneva. Paragraph 3 of the statues states that the watches awarded the Seal of Geneva Quality Mark must "after examination prove to have a perfect mechanism to ensure regular and durable functioning".
Seal of Geneva Quality Mark. The Seal of Geneva Quality Mark is a trademark of the Office of Geneva Control of Watches. It was established on November 6, 1886, amended several times with the largest change incorporated on December 10, 1955. Its function was to voluntarily control watches made in the Canton of Geneva. Paragraph 3 of the statues states that the watches awarded the Seal of Geneva Quality Mark must "after examination prove to have a perfect mechanism to ensure regular and durable functioning".