Live Auction 1353Important Pocketwatches and Wristwatches
Patek Philippe. A unique and important 18K gold openface minute repeating perpetual calendar keyless lever watch with phases of the moon and black dial
Lot 305

Patek Philippe. A unique and important 18K gold openface minute repeating perpetual calendar keyless lever watch with phases of the moon and black dial

SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE & CIE., GENÈVE, MOVEMENT NO. 198'004, CASE NO. 618'751, REF. 600, MOVEMENT MANUFACTURED IN 1925, FIRST SOLD ON 13 DECEMBER 1935, FINISHED TO THE PRESENT SPECIFICATIONS IN 1938

Closed12 May 2008

Price Realised

CHF 133,000

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Patek Philippe. A unique and important 18K gold openface minute repeating perpetual calendar keyless lever watch with phases of the moon and black dial
Signed Patek Philippe & Cie., Genève, movement no. 198'004, case no. 618'751, ref. 600, movement manufactured in 1925, first sold on 13 December 1935, finished to the present specifications in 1938
Cal. 18''' nickel-finished lever movement, 31 jewels, monometallic Glucydur balance, swan neck regulator, wolf's tooth winding, adjusted to eight positions, minute repeating on two polished hammers onto two gongs, the black dial with applied gold baton numerals, gold feuille hands, aperture for phases of the moon combined with lunar calendar, three subsidiary dials indicating day, month and date combined with constant seconds, in circular case with stepped bezel, snap on back, repeating slide in the band, case, dial and movement signed
48 mm. diam.

Specialist note

Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1925 and its subsequent sale on 13 December 1935. It furthermore states that in 1938, the original case was replaced by the actual one bearing number 618'751.

A particularity of the present watch is its balance, the so-called Glucydur balance, introduced in the market around 1935. The smooth two or three arm balance composed of an alloy of mostly beryllium and copper provides excellent hardness and high stability over a wide range of temperatures. The combination with a nivarox spring providing temperature correction does make balance screws unnecessary for this purpose. The screw less design also has a greater aerodynamic efficiency.