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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present movement in 1923, its encasement in 1940 and the subsequent sale of the present watch with silvered dial and raised steel hour markers on 12 October 1940.
This watch is undoubtedly one of the most unusual examples of a reference 565 in stainless steel ever to appear in public to date. Not only preserved in very attractive condition, it is furthermore distinguished by the lack of either sweep centre or subsidiary seconds commonly found on this model. In fact research has resulted in the discovery that no other example of a "pure time only" reference 565 has appeared in public to date.
The movement is signed, besides Patek Philippe's signature, by L. Boulliane, who is understood to have been one of Patek Philippe's master watchmakers in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The dust cover furthermore carries a presentation inscription, dated 1954, to "Filip Boulliane", the son. The very rare and early calibre with typical "extra-quality" features such as wolf's tooth winding, the bimetallic compensation balance and the moustache lever, leads to the conclusion that this watch was a one-off made by Boulliane for himself. The stainless steel case, the appropriate choice for the early war years and the financial situation of a watchmaker, underline this theory.
Cherished for a generation in the same family, this rare variant of reference 565 had consequently had the minimum number of services and polishes since its making over 70 years ago. This lack of exposure results today in a very well preserved case and the appealing dial does not show any signs of cosmetic enhancement, rounding up the overall look of this rare timepiece.
Reference 565, the first large water-resistant watch featuring a two-piece case with screw back and dust cover, was available with either subsidiary or sweep centre seconds. The timelessly modern design of reference 565 served as inspiration for the creation of the 2006 stainless steel inaugural reference 5565.
This watch is undoubtedly one of the most unusual examples of a reference 565 in stainless steel ever to appear in public to date. Not only preserved in very attractive condition, it is furthermore distinguished by the lack of either sweep centre or subsidiary seconds commonly found on this model. In fact research has resulted in the discovery that no other example of a "pure time only" reference 565 has appeared in public to date.
The movement is signed, besides Patek Philippe's signature, by L. Boulliane, who is understood to have been one of Patek Philippe's master watchmakers in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The dust cover furthermore carries a presentation inscription, dated 1954, to "Filip Boulliane", the son. The very rare and early calibre with typical "extra-quality" features such as wolf's tooth winding, the bimetallic compensation balance and the moustache lever, leads to the conclusion that this watch was a one-off made by Boulliane for himself. The stainless steel case, the appropriate choice for the early war years and the financial situation of a watchmaker, underline this theory.
Cherished for a generation in the same family, this rare variant of reference 565 had consequently had the minimum number of services and polishes since its making over 70 years ago. This lack of exposure results today in a very well preserved case and the appealing dial does not show any signs of cosmetic enhancement, rounding up the overall look of this rare timepiece.
Reference 565, the first large water-resistant watch featuring a two-piece case with screw back and dust cover, was available with either subsidiary or sweep centre seconds. The timelessly modern design of reference 565 served as inspiration for the creation of the 2006 stainless steel inaugural reference 5565.