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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1874, achievement of the Geneva Observatory rating certificate on 23 April 1879, and its subsequent sale on 18 May 1880. It had been presented at the Geneva Observatory Timing Contest in 1879, the movement adjusted by the celebrated precision adjuster Mr. A. Favre.
Pocket chronometers by Patek Philippe are extremely rare. The present example is one of the earliest known and historically important as it is one of the earliest participants at a Geneva Observatory Timing Contest which started in 1873 only. It is furthermore believed to be the only example retailed by Henry Pleister known to exist to date and preserved in very good, original overall condition.
Henry Pleister located at 277 Regent St, London, was a retailer of fine quality watches and Patek Philippe's agent in London.
In 1844 Antoine Patek began experimenting with detent escapements, producing pocket chronometers in exceedingly small numbers. One of them, no. 3218, was bought by Prince Albert at the 1851 London Exposition. These pocket chronometers were Patek Philippe's most precise watches and also among the most expensive to produce. It is believed that less than 60 of such chronometers were made, rendering them actually rarer than Patek Philippe's tourbillon watches.
These chronometers were manufactured either for the firm's most important clients or to be used for Observatory contests. Patek Philippe would keep the movements during a number of years for them to participate in different timing contest in the Observatories in Geneva, Kew or even Washington. From one Observatory contest to another, these movements were constantly improved to achieve even higher ratings.
Other examples of Patek Philippe's pocket chronometer watches with spring detent escapement and helical hair spring are illustrated and described in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches - Volume II, pp. 18-20.
Pocket chronometers by Patek Philippe are extremely rare. The present example is one of the earliest known and historically important as it is one of the earliest participants at a Geneva Observatory Timing Contest which started in 1873 only. It is furthermore believed to be the only example retailed by Henry Pleister known to exist to date and preserved in very good, original overall condition.
Henry Pleister located at 277 Regent St, London, was a retailer of fine quality watches and Patek Philippe's agent in London.
In 1844 Antoine Patek began experimenting with detent escapements, producing pocket chronometers in exceedingly small numbers. One of them, no. 3218, was bought by Prince Albert at the 1851 London Exposition. These pocket chronometers were Patek Philippe's most precise watches and also among the most expensive to produce. It is believed that less than 60 of such chronometers were made, rendering them actually rarer than Patek Philippe's tourbillon watches.
These chronometers were manufactured either for the firm's most important clients or to be used for Observatory contests. Patek Philippe would keep the movements during a number of years for them to participate in different timing contest in the Observatories in Geneva, Kew or even Washington. From one Observatory contest to another, these movements were constantly improved to achieve even higher ratings.
Other examples of Patek Philippe's pocket chronometer watches with spring detent escapement and helical hair spring are illustrated and described in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches - Volume II, pp. 18-20.