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Lot Essay
This watch is an incredibly appealing example of one of the extremely rare references 130 in stainless steel fitted with a superb two-tone silvered sector dial featuring a scale calibrated to 15 pulsations as opposed to the more common 30 pulse beats. The combination of the grain-finished segment for the minute and hour section contrasting with the plain centre and outer ring featuring the pulsometre scale render the watch a unique and extremely smart look.
Given the date of sale of the watch it can safely be assumed that this dial was mounted shortly after its purchase upon special request of its first owner, a theory supported by the archival information stating that it left Patek Philippe's workshops with a tachometre dial.
According to our researches it would appear that in over 40 years of international watch auctions only one other example of this reference in steel featuring a pulsation scale calibrated to 15 pulse beats has appeared in public. The superb look of the ultra-rare dial combined with the incredible quality and crispness of the steel case render this chronograph a rare find for the collector of exceptional timepieces.
Pulsometer scale
The sector dial featuring a pulsometre scale instead of the traditional tachometre, were not a customary function. They are believed to be special orders and are much rarer to find. This function which is also known as “doctor dial” was created to allow physicians to calculate a patient's pulse in far less than one minute.
Reference 130
Reference 130, one of Patek Philippe's landmark models, was launched in 1934 and remained in production until the 1960s. Distinguished by its timeless "Calatrava" design, the model was available in different precious metals 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.
Further examples of ref. 130 with sector dials are illustrated in Patek Philippe Steel Watches by John Goldberger, pp. 212-223.
Given the date of sale of the watch it can safely be assumed that this dial was mounted shortly after its purchase upon special request of its first owner, a theory supported by the archival information stating that it left Patek Philippe's workshops with a tachometre dial.
According to our researches it would appear that in over 40 years of international watch auctions only one other example of this reference in steel featuring a pulsation scale calibrated to 15 pulse beats has appeared in public. The superb look of the ultra-rare dial combined with the incredible quality and crispness of the steel case render this chronograph a rare find for the collector of exceptional timepieces.
Pulsometer scale
The sector dial featuring a pulsometre scale instead of the traditional tachometre, were not a customary function. They are believed to be special orders and are much rarer to find. This function which is also known as “doctor dial” was created to allow physicians to calculate a patient's pulse in far less than one minute.
Reference 130
Reference 130, one of Patek Philippe's landmark models, was launched in 1934 and remained in production until the 1960s. Distinguished by its timeless "Calatrava" design, the model was available in different precious metals 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.
Further examples of ref. 130 with sector dials are illustrated in Patek Philippe Steel Watches by John Goldberger, pp. 212-223.