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 1946 and its subsequent sale on 13 May 1948.
The present chronograph is an incredibly appealing example of Patek Philippe's celebrated reference 130, distinguished by its highly unusual dial. In fact, in 40 years of international watch auctions only one other example of this reference in steel has been accounted for with a pulsation scale calibrated to 15 pulse beats. This rare scale combined with the multi-tone sector dial is, visually, a look hard to beat.
Given the date of sale of the present watch one spontaneously wonders if this dial was not mounted at a later stage upon the request of its owner. This theory is supported by the archival information supplied by Patek Philippe stating that it left their workshops with a tachometre dial.
The incredible quality and crispness of the steel case paired with the superb looks of its ultra-rare dial render this timing instrument a piece of art for any wearer's wrist.
The present chronograph is an incredibly appealing example of Patek Philippe's celebrated reference 130, distinguished by its highly unusual dial. In fact, in 40 years of international watch auctions only one other example of this reference in steel has been accounted for with a pulsation scale calibrated to 15 pulse beats. This rare scale combined with the multi-tone sector dial is, visually, a look hard to beat.
Given the date of sale of the present watch one spontaneously wonders if this dial was not mounted at a later stage upon the request of its owner. This theory is supported by the archival information supplied by Patek Philippe stating that it left their workshops with a tachometre dial.
The incredible quality and crispness of the steel case paired with the superb looks of its ultra-rare dial render this timing instrument a piece of art for any wearer's wrist.