Live Auction 14792Rare Watches
Patek Philippe. A very fine and rare 18K gold minute repeating split seconds chronograph keyless lever watch with box
Lot 15 The Property of an Important European Private Collector

American Baseball Player Dave “Beauty” Bancroft’s Patek Philippe Split-Seconds Minute Repeating Watch

Patek Philippe. A very fine and rare 18K gold minute repeating split seconds chronograph keyless lever watch with box

Signed Patek Philippe & Cie., Geneva, Switzerland, retailed by Shreve, Crump & Low Co., Boston, movement no. 174’160, case no. 279’631, manufactured in 1913

Closed13 November 2017

Price Realised

CHF 52,500

Considering selling a similar item?

Discover its value with a complimentary estimate from our specialists.

More Information

How to sell

Patek Philippe. A very fine and rare 18K gold minute repeating split seconds chronograph keyless lever watch with box
Signed Patek Philippe & Cie., Geneva, Switzerland, retailed by Shreve, Crump & Low Co., Boston, movement no. 174’160, case no. 279’631, manufactured in 1913
Movement: cal. 17’’’, manual, 39 jewels, repeating with two hammers on two gongs, swan-neck micrometer regulator, signed by the maker and retailer
Dial: white enamel, instantaneous minute register, signed
Case: back with concealed hinge, engraved monogram “DJB”, locking slide and split-seconds button in the band, co-axial chronograph button in the crown, signed, hinged gold cuvette engraved “To Dave Bancroft/ in Friendship and Faith/ Boston Braves/ July 25th 1925”, signed by the maker and retailer, 47 mm. diam.
With: Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with enamel dial and black Arabic numerals in 1913 and its subsequent sale on 27th June 1916, and a period Patek Philippe box

Specialist note

Preserved in excellent overall condition, this rare minute repeating split seconds chronograph was presented to the American baseball player and manager Dave “Beauty” Bancroft in 1925 during his time as manager of the Boston Braves.
David James “Beauty” Bancroft (1891-1972)
Played in Major League baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants, Boston Braves and the Brooklyn Robins between 1915 and 1930.
He played in minor league baseball from 1909 until 1914 when he was bought by the Phillies. After playing for the Giants through the 1923 season he became player-manager of the Braves, a role that lasted for four years.
Considered an excellent defensive shortstop and a smart ball player, Bancroft was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1971.