Patek Philippe. A fine and rare 18K gold wristwatch with scrolled lugs
Lot 258

Patek Philippe. A fine and rare 18K gold wristwatch with scrolled lugs

Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, retailed by Tiffany & Co., Ref. 1491, movement no. 963'475, case no. 653'286, manufactured in 1948

Closed14 November 2016

Price Realised

CHF 17,500

More Information

How to sell

Patek Philippe. A fine and rare 18K gold wristwatch with scrolled lugs
Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, retailed by Tiffany & Co., Ref. 1491, movement no. 963'475, case no. 653'286, manufactured in 1948
MOVEMENT: manual, cal. 12'''400, stamped HOX, 18 jewels
DIAL: silvered, black Arabic and applied gold baton numerals to 3, 9 and 12 o'clock, subsidiary seconds
CASE: 18K gold, scrolled lugs, snap on back, 34 mm. diam.
SIGNED: case, dial, movement signed by maker, dial further signed by retailer
BUCKLE: 18K gold Patek Philippe buckle
ACCOMPANIED BY: Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with raised gold indexes in 1948 and its subsequent sale on 10 May 1949

Specialist note

This reference 1491 has never been offered at auction before and impresses by its very good overall condition and the highly attractive Tiffany & Co. dial. As to be expected in this particular instance its regulator bridge bears the stamp "HOX", a mark used by Patek Philippe during the 1940s and 1950s to identify watches made for the American market.

Reference 1491
Launched in 1940 the model is a perfect example of Patek Philippe's continuous search for new and avant-garde innovations, whether in the movement of their watches, or, as in this instance, in the design. The unusual lugs of this model are looking towards a new era of watchmaking design that fully dawned from the sixties on with unusual case shapes, stepped bezels and fancy lugs.