Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with silvered dial, tachometer scale and raised Breguet hour markers in steel in 1945 and its subsequent sale on 25 May 1946.
Few watches combine so beautifully elegance, state-of-the-art engineering and sportiness as the stainless steel version of reference 130 by Patek Philippe. This is particularly the case when the dial is fitted with the ultra-rare and sensual Breguet numerals.
The present watch, coming from one of the world's best curated wristwatch collections, is possibly the finest specimen of this mythical version of Patek Philippe's best known chronograph model. Not only preserved in superb and unmolested condition, its desirability is furthermore enhanced by the fact that the dial is described by Patek Philippe's archives exactly "as is" with Breguet numerals.
The case is impressing with strong definition and, not like many of its stainless steel peers from the same period, free of corrosion. The dial shines thanks to an immaculate ivory-coloured surface with all the black printing beautifully raised.
The production of the simple chronograph with reference 130 was launched in 1934. The model was produced in different precious metal versions as well as in stainless steel. It is interesting to note that the lugs of the stainless steel version are different from the yellow, pink or white gold ones. Their slightly thicker but shorter design gives the watch a rather tonneau-shaped design and a more sportive, robust and masculine look.
It comes to no surprise that one of the world's leading scholars and authors, John Goldberger, as chosen this very watch to represent this type of chronograph in Patek Philippe Steel Watches p. 230-231.
Few watches combine so beautifully elegance, state-of-the-art engineering and sportiness as the stainless steel version of reference 130 by Patek Philippe. This is particularly the case when the dial is fitted with the ultra-rare and sensual Breguet numerals.
The present watch, coming from one of the world's best curated wristwatch collections, is possibly the finest specimen of this mythical version of Patek Philippe's best known chronograph model. Not only preserved in superb and unmolested condition, its desirability is furthermore enhanced by the fact that the dial is described by Patek Philippe's archives exactly "as is" with Breguet numerals.
The case is impressing with strong definition and, not like many of its stainless steel peers from the same period, free of corrosion. The dial shines thanks to an immaculate ivory-coloured surface with all the black printing beautifully raised.
The production of the simple chronograph with reference 130 was launched in 1934. The model was produced in different precious metal versions as well as in stainless steel. It is interesting to note that the lugs of the stainless steel version are different from the yellow, pink or white gold ones. Their slightly thicker but shorter design gives the watch a rather tonneau-shaped design and a more sportive, robust and masculine look.
It comes to no surprise that one of the world's leading scholars and authors, John Goldberger, as chosen this very watch to represent this type of chronograph in Patek Philippe Steel Watches p. 230-231.