Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with silvered dial, raised steel hour markers and tachometre scale in 1945 and its subsequent sale on 13 September 1946.
No other reference 1463 is known to the world with such a phenomenal multi-tone sector dial with telemetre scale. The waterproof stainless steel case with round chronograph pushers and the very scientific look of the dial are certainly one of the most attractive and convincing combinations seen on vintage Patek Philippe wristwatches. The lovely dial finish, enhanced by the sought-after Walser Wald retailer signature, will not go unnoticed amongst any collector.
Never before offered at public auction, this legendary watch was most likely upgraded with the present dial after having been completed at Patek Philippe's workshops in 1945. As a matter of fact, the archives of Patek Philippe state that the watch left their factory with a tachometre dial. It can safely be assumed that the present telemetre dial was changed after the watch's arrival with Walser, Wald & Cia., Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Patek Philippe chronograph wristwatches with telemetre scales are amongst the rarest gems. In fact, during the last 40 years of public auction, no more than a dozen chronograph wristwatches made by the noble Geneva firm featuring this unusual scale have been accounted for, all references combined.
Telemetre scales are used to measure the distance of an occurrence which is both visible and audible. The chronograph hand is released at the instant the phenomenon is seen and stopped when the sound is heard, its position on the scale showing the distance in kilometers or miles separating the event from the observer.
This feature was most notably used for military purposes, where artillery forces can judge the distance of bombs that they are firing - or that are being fired at them. A civil use of the telemetre scale may include the judging of how far away a storm is by activating the chronograph when one sees the lightning flash. When hearing the thunder, the hand is stopped and shows the wearer the distance of the approaching storm.
Reference 1463, the only vintage Patek Philippe chronograph model with screw back case and round pushers, was launched in 1940 and remained in production until 1965, the majority cased in yellow gold. The stainless steel models however are exceedingly rare and were in production only until 1960.
The model is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 267.
No other reference 1463 is known to the world with such a phenomenal multi-tone sector dial with telemetre scale. The waterproof stainless steel case with round chronograph pushers and the very scientific look of the dial are certainly one of the most attractive and convincing combinations seen on vintage Patek Philippe wristwatches. The lovely dial finish, enhanced by the sought-after Walser Wald retailer signature, will not go unnoticed amongst any collector.
Never before offered at public auction, this legendary watch was most likely upgraded with the present dial after having been completed at Patek Philippe's workshops in 1945. As a matter of fact, the archives of Patek Philippe state that the watch left their factory with a tachometre dial. It can safely be assumed that the present telemetre dial was changed after the watch's arrival with Walser, Wald & Cia., Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Patek Philippe chronograph wristwatches with telemetre scales are amongst the rarest gems. In fact, during the last 40 years of public auction, no more than a dozen chronograph wristwatches made by the noble Geneva firm featuring this unusual scale have been accounted for, all references combined.
Telemetre scales are used to measure the distance of an occurrence which is both visible and audible. The chronograph hand is released at the instant the phenomenon is seen and stopped when the sound is heard, its position on the scale showing the distance in kilometers or miles separating the event from the observer.
This feature was most notably used for military purposes, where artillery forces can judge the distance of bombs that they are firing - or that are being fired at them. A civil use of the telemetre scale may include the judging of how far away a storm is by activating the chronograph when one sees the lightning flash. When hearing the thunder, the hand is stopped and shows the wearer the distance of the approaching storm.
Reference 1463, the only vintage Patek Philippe chronograph model with screw back case and round pushers, was launched in 1940 and remained in production until 1965, the majority cased in yellow gold. The stainless steel models however are exceedingly rare and were in production only until 1960.
The model is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 267.