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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1917 and its subsequent sale on December 26, 1917.
This impressive triple complication represents the state-of-the-art in watch manufacturing from the heyday of complicated and ultra-complicated timepieces. Uniting the three main complications established at that time, the perpetual calendar for the astronomical functions, the split-seconds chronograph for timing purposes and the distinct minute repeating for the acoustic pleasure; the overall appeal of this ultra-rare timepiece is furthermore enhanced by the additional complication of the instantaneous minute recorder and its very appealing original overall condition.
It represents the fine art of haute horlogerie, incorporating a number of important developments patented by Patek Philippe and still employed to date, such as the perpetual calendar (1889), the improved hand-setting mechanism (1889), the spring mechanism featured inside the case resulting in the so-called hidden hinges (1898), the split-seconds chronograph (190) and the micrometric or swan neck adjustment (1903).
The most notable patent used in the present triple complication is however the instantaneous minute recorder, issued in 1904, allowing the counter hand to move forward at once, each minute, in just one click precisely when the chronograph hands reaches the 60th seconds position. It differs from the better known half-instantaneous features found in the majority of chronograph watches, which allows the hand to move forward gradually during a few seconds just after the 57th second and ends with a click at the 60th second.
Never been offered in public before and furthermore distinguished by its complications and overall conditions, the present triple complication must be considered a trophy for the aficionado of ultra-complex timepieces. It is interesting to note that a similar watch movement 174'813 sold in these salesroom on June 15th, 2011 for $182,500.
A similar watch is published in Patek Philippe Pocketwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition, p. 226, full page.
This impressive triple complication represents the state-of-the-art in watch manufacturing from the heyday of complicated and ultra-complicated timepieces. Uniting the three main complications established at that time, the perpetual calendar for the astronomical functions, the split-seconds chronograph for timing purposes and the distinct minute repeating for the acoustic pleasure; the overall appeal of this ultra-rare timepiece is furthermore enhanced by the additional complication of the instantaneous minute recorder and its very appealing original overall condition.
It represents the fine art of haute horlogerie, incorporating a number of important developments patented by Patek Philippe and still employed to date, such as the perpetual calendar (1889), the improved hand-setting mechanism (1889), the spring mechanism featured inside the case resulting in the so-called hidden hinges (1898), the split-seconds chronograph (190) and the micrometric or swan neck adjustment (1903).
The most notable patent used in the present triple complication is however the instantaneous minute recorder, issued in 1904, allowing the counter hand to move forward at once, each minute, in just one click precisely when the chronograph hands reaches the 60th seconds position. It differs from the better known half-instantaneous features found in the majority of chronograph watches, which allows the hand to move forward gradually during a few seconds just after the 57th second and ends with a click at the 60th second.
Never been offered in public before and furthermore distinguished by its complications and overall conditions, the present triple complication must be considered a trophy for the aficionado of ultra-complex timepieces. It is interesting to note that a similar watch movement 174'813 sold in these salesroom on June 15th, 2011 for $182,500.
A similar watch is published in Patek Philippe Pocketwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition, p. 226, full page.