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Lot Essay
Accompanied by a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1900 and its subsequent sale on November 20th, 1900. Further accompanied by an associated gold-filled watch chain.
To the best of our knowledge this watch has never before been offered in public.
The Boettcher Family
The Boettcher name is one of the most recognized in Colorado's history. Claudius Kedzie Boettcher was born in Boulder, Colorado, the only son to Charles and Fannie (Cowan) Boettcher. At the time, Claudius' father Charles had opened his first hardware store in his name in Boulder, which still stands today with the C. Boettcher & Company name visible high above the main entrance.
Prosperous times lay ahead for the Boettcher family. Although they were happy in Boulder, Charles was an entrepreneur, a forward thinker, and one to seize an opportunity when it rises. He made preparations to move his young family and business to Leadville where there was a current silver boom. While the hardware business flourished, Charles' investments broadened and he became involved in banking circles too. After Charles had grown to own multiple hardware businesses, he moved his focus to Colorado's sugar beet industry after he had witness its success in his country of birth, Germany, and decided to build factories in Colorado to manufacture the sugar. It was at this point that he enlisted his son Claude and others to form the Great Western Sugar Company. The sugar industry lead to success other fields too such as producing cement. Charles, Fannie, and Claude soon became one of Colorado's wealthiest and most prominent founding families.
Claude K Boettcher (1875 - 1957)
The second generation of Colorado pioneers came of age in the 1890's. Educated in the east, these men would shape Colorado just as their fathers had. Claude attended Dr. Holbrook's Military School in New York and Harvard to study engineering before returning to Denver where he felt a compelling need to dedicate himself to expanding his fathers enterprises. In 1890 he married De Allan McMurtrie and they welcomed their only child, the second Charles Boettcher later that year.
A known philanthropist, later Claude's work ethic allowed him to be the driving force behind the establishment of the Boettcher Foundation in 1937, the Boettcher School for Crippled Children, and Children's hospital. A generous man, Claude wanted to use his families fortune to give back. Admired as a strong leader, he was also named one of the best dressed men in nation.
To the best of our knowledge this watch has never before been offered in public.
The Boettcher Family
The Boettcher name is one of the most recognized in Colorado's history. Claudius Kedzie Boettcher was born in Boulder, Colorado, the only son to Charles and Fannie (Cowan) Boettcher. At the time, Claudius' father Charles had opened his first hardware store in his name in Boulder, which still stands today with the C. Boettcher & Company name visible high above the main entrance.
Prosperous times lay ahead for the Boettcher family. Although they were happy in Boulder, Charles was an entrepreneur, a forward thinker, and one to seize an opportunity when it rises. He made preparations to move his young family and business to Leadville where there was a current silver boom. While the hardware business flourished, Charles' investments broadened and he became involved in banking circles too. After Charles had grown to own multiple hardware businesses, he moved his focus to Colorado's sugar beet industry after he had witness its success in his country of birth, Germany, and decided to build factories in Colorado to manufacture the sugar. It was at this point that he enlisted his son Claude and others to form the Great Western Sugar Company. The sugar industry lead to success other fields too such as producing cement. Charles, Fannie, and Claude soon became one of Colorado's wealthiest and most prominent founding families.
Claude K Boettcher (1875 - 1957)
The second generation of Colorado pioneers came of age in the 1890's. Educated in the east, these men would shape Colorado just as their fathers had. Claude attended Dr. Holbrook's Military School in New York and Harvard to study engineering before returning to Denver where he felt a compelling need to dedicate himself to expanding his fathers enterprises. In 1890 he married De Allan McMurtrie and they welcomed their only child, the second Charles Boettcher later that year.
A known philanthropist, later Claude's work ethic allowed him to be the driving force behind the establishment of the Boettcher Foundation in 1937, the Boettcher School for Crippled Children, and Children's hospital. A generous man, Claude wanted to use his families fortune to give back. Admired as a strong leader, he was also named one of the best dressed men in nation.