Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Jun 28, 2020

LOT 294

PATEK PHILIPPE

CHF 35,000 - 55,000

HKD 280,000 - 440,000 / USD 35,000 - 55,000

Sold: CHF 71,250

Pocket watch, minute-repeater, split-seconds chronograph, minute recorder; 39 jewels movement, 18K yellow gold open face 18K yellow gold, open-face, keyless-winding, round-shaped, pocket watch, with subsidiary seconds at 6 and four horological complications: • Minute-repeater on two steel gongs (activated by the slide at 8 o’clock) • 1/5 second chronograph (activated by the single round push-piece located on the winding-crown); safety bolt locking the chronograph’s functions (slide at 11 o’clock) • Split-seconds (activated by the rectangular push-piece located on the case-band at 10:30) • Half-instantaneous 30-minute recorder Case-back polished and blue and red enamelled in champlevé with the cypher “A S L”. Cuvette (dome) engraved in taille-douce (fine-cut) with the mention “To / Albert Lincoln Smith / in grateful appreciation of / your unselfish help / and advice for / many years / Harry W. Child / Christmas 1920”. White enamel dial with suspended Breguet numerals; pink gold “Louis XV” hands.

Image Image

Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Brand Patek Philippe, Geneva

Year Circa 1915

Movement No. 174041

Case No. 277120

Caliber 17''', rhodium-plated, 39 jewels, going barrel, straight-line equilibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensated balance with gold and platinum poising screws and blued steel hairspring with terminal curve, index regulator with swan-neck spring and micrometric screw; chronograph work on the top plate, split-seconds work mounted under the dial

Dimensions 47 mm.

Signature Dial, Case and Movement

Accessories Patek Philippe presentation box, Certificate of Origin, Extract from the Archives confirming the date of sale on December 24th, 1920, spare crystal, mainspring and repeat spring

Notes

Provenance: The Watch of Albert Lincoln Smith, Presented by Harry W. Child Only 170 pieces made by Patek Philippe with minute repeating and split-second chronograph in open face cased are known: 39 pieces with 17'' movement and only 15 with 39 jewels such as this lot which is the only one with its original certificate. The enameled monogram on the back of the case was made for Albert Lincoln Smith who was the President of the Montana Trust and Savings Bank in the 1920's. Involved in may charities, the bank helped during WW1 with relief efforts and supported the Montana Loyalty League and the Red Cross. Furthermore the watch was donated by Harry W. Child who on top of establishing the San Francisco Stock exchange in 1882, was the founder of the Yellowstone Park company offering various services to the visitors of the Yellowstone National Park from 1892 to 1980.