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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1919 and its subsequent sale on December 26th, 1935. Further accompanied Patek Philippe original fitted walnut presentation box with two curved metal plaques with engraved and inlaid black enamel inscription Patek, Philippe & Co. and L'heure
This Patek Philippe display desk clock is a freshly discovered example to the market of one of the rarest timepieces the manufacture has ever made. Produced in a series of approximately 15 known examples circa 1918-19, these timepieces were originally made to supply retailers with a chronometer quality timing within their stores. As a functional display, these clocks were meant to be the master timers to set the accurate time for all the other timepieces within the retailers' cases.
The inlaid metal plaques on these timepieces typically feature the name of the retailer below 6 o'clock. Examples are known to have been made for such retailers as Tiffany & Co, Shreve, and Baily, Banks & Biddle. With the presently offered example, the retailer plaque simply states L'heure indicating the possibility that this timepiece was made for a retail client, further suggested by the fact that this timepiece was sold by Patek Philippe to an unknown customer just after Christmas in 1935.
Of particular note with this example is the unique layout of the dial in the regulator fashion. With other known examples, the hours are indicated on the outer perimeter of the dial. With this possibly unique example, the seconds are on the outer dial with the inner dial calibrated for hours.
This desk clock was awarded a Geneva Observatory rating certificate on March 14, 1928.
This Patek Philippe display desk clock is a freshly discovered example to the market of one of the rarest timepieces the manufacture has ever made. Produced in a series of approximately 15 known examples circa 1918-19, these timepieces were originally made to supply retailers with a chronometer quality timing within their stores. As a functional display, these clocks were meant to be the master timers to set the accurate time for all the other timepieces within the retailers' cases.
The inlaid metal plaques on these timepieces typically feature the name of the retailer below 6 o'clock. Examples are known to have been made for such retailers as Tiffany & Co, Shreve, and Baily, Banks & Biddle. With the presently offered example, the retailer plaque simply states L'heure indicating the possibility that this timepiece was made for a retail client, further suggested by the fact that this timepiece was sold by Patek Philippe to an unknown customer just after Christmas in 1935.
Of particular note with this example is the unique layout of the dial in the regulator fashion. With other known examples, the hours are indicated on the outer perimeter of the dial. With this possibly unique example, the seconds are on the outer dial with the inner dial calibrated for hours.
This desk clock was awarded a Geneva Observatory rating certificate on March 14, 1928.