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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the movement in 1909. It was completed and encased in 1963 and sold on 9 February 1965.
The present two-train minute repeating reference 841 must be considered one of Patek Philippe's most beautiful, technically most complex and, for collectors, most desirable creations made during the second half of the 20th century. In fact, it combines a movement finished in 1909, the Golden Age of complicated pocket watches, and a case and dial design from the firm's finest period of modernistic styling. In fact, the case and dial design are clearly related to Patek Philippe's celebrated reference 3448, just introduced briefly before the present reference 841 was finished.
This watch features the rare and desirable tandem wound two train movement, one for the going and one for the repeating work. Traditionally, the repeating mechanism of a watch is activated by pushing a slide in the case band, thus winding and releasing it at the same time. The train of a trip repeater is wound in conjunction with the going train and released at will through a button in the crown. The advantages of this system are the clean lines of the case, the enhanced dust resistance and most importantly permitting the owner the activation of the repeat train many times at will from only one winding.
To the best of our knowledge, the present watch is the only example of a reference 841 known to exist to date. Part of Patek Philippe's "Série Moderne" made in the 1960s, including references 836 to 839, 841 to 845, 847, 850 and 853, it was only known from literature.
Acquired by the present collector at Christie's Geneva in 2006, it is now only the second time ever that this masterpiece is offered at auction.
The present two-train minute repeating reference 841 must be considered one of Patek Philippe's most beautiful, technically most complex and, for collectors, most desirable creations made during the second half of the 20th century. In fact, it combines a movement finished in 1909, the Golden Age of complicated pocket watches, and a case and dial design from the firm's finest period of modernistic styling. In fact, the case and dial design are clearly related to Patek Philippe's celebrated reference 3448, just introduced briefly before the present reference 841 was finished.
This watch features the rare and desirable tandem wound two train movement, one for the going and one for the repeating work. Traditionally, the repeating mechanism of a watch is activated by pushing a slide in the case band, thus winding and releasing it at the same time. The train of a trip repeater is wound in conjunction with the going train and released at will through a button in the crown. The advantages of this system are the clean lines of the case, the enhanced dust resistance and most importantly permitting the owner the activation of the repeat train many times at will from only one winding.
To the best of our knowledge, the present watch is the only example of a reference 841 known to exist to date. Part of Patek Philippe's "Série Moderne" made in the 1960s, including references 836 to 839, 841 to 845, 847, 850 and 853, it was only known from literature.
Acquired by the present collector at Christie's Geneva in 2006, it is now only the second time ever that this masterpiece is offered at auction.