Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 31, 1998

LOT 346

Patek Philippe & Cie., Geneve, No. 178448, case No. 411896, completed in 1921, sold on May 4, 1926 to Henry Graves Junior, New York. Extremely fine 18K gold pocket lever chronometer with 36 hours power reserve indication. Bulletin de Premiere Classe de l'Observatoire Astronomique de Geneve, awarded the First Prize for the timing contest in 1919.

CHF 22,000 - 26,000

Sold: CHF 39,100

C. Four body, massive, "bassine", polished, the back engraved with the Arms of Henry Graves Jnr. and his motto: Esse Quam. Video Hinged gold cuvette. D. Gold saline with Roman numerals, outer minute ring, subsidiary seconds and Up-and-Down scale. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 22 "', rhodium plated, "fausses cotes " decoration, 21 jewels with the Geneva quality marks, counterpoised lever escapement, brass-invar Guillaume balance, eight adjustments by Golay- Audemars, blued steel balance spring with terminal curve and swan neck micrometric index. Signed on the dial, case and movement. Accompanied by Extract from the Archives and copies of the Observatory contest. Diam. 57 mm.


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Grading System
Case: 12

Worn
Movement: 12*

Worn

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Timing Contest : - Mean average daily rate +/-0.15 - Restart period + 0.84 - Error of compensation per degree C +/-0.009 - Mean err or in 6 positions +/- 0.29 With 815 marks, this chronometer was the 3rd out of 53 classified with more than 600. The first iii the trial gained 824 and the last 601, on a possible maximum of 1000 marks. 81 chronometers were entered for the contest. The centre wheel hearing of this watch was made of natural sapphire, while the rest of the jewelling, including the lever pallets are made of rubies; such a mixed jewelling is an unusual feature for Patek Philippe. A similar watch in platinum, also made for Henry Graves Jnr., was sold by Antiquorum in Geneva on April 9, 1989, The Art of Patel; Philippe, lot 37. Henry Graves Jnr. (1868-1953), was a sportsman and collector from New York. He was a great lover of watches and a passionate collector of Patek Philippe watches. He ordered from Patek Philippe a number of watches with specific qualities and, in particular, conunissioned theta to manufacture the most complicated watch. Afler three years preliminary studies, it took five years to complete this extraordinary timepiece (1928-1933), which featured 24 complications; its movement contained over 800 parts arranged on four levels. The most complicated watch was delivered to Flenry Graves on January 19, 1933 and cost SFr. 60,000. The Patek Philippe Graves Watch remained the most complicated watch ever made for over fifty years, when Patel( Philippe realized the Calibre 89, with 33 complications, to celebrate their 150th anniversary in 1989. Literature: Patch Philippe Geneve, Pocket Watches, by Martin Huber & Alan Banhery, 1998 Edition, pp. 89-90 and 258-273. The Art of Palek Philippe, Calibre 89, Antiquorum, April 9, 1989, pp. 6, 54-55