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Lot Essay
Around 2000, the owner of the present watch, founder of an important shipping company, approached Patek Philippe in Geneva with a very special request: he asked for a hunter case dress watch depicting the painting of one of his vessels to the front and engraved nautical symbols on the reverse. After some correspondence Mr. Philippe Stern granted the request, the image of the vessel was sent to the manufacture and production started.
The enamel miniature of the “bateau commercial”, after a painting by Diedrich A. Kniffka, was commissioned to one of the firm’s longstanding and talented enamellists, J.L. Péter, who signed and dated the work once finished in 2003. An especially decorated back cover chased with nautical symbols completed the watch and it was collected by the proud new owner at Patek Philippe’s German retailer G.D. Wempe on 31 August 2003.
This superb and extremely rare example of a Patek Philippe’s dress watch made to special order, embellished with an enamel miniature painting, a small work of art in its own rights, is now consigned for auction by his wife.
In like new condition, of private provenance and fresh to the market, this reference 865/224 must be considered a highlight for the collectors of unique timepieces and nautical memorabilias alike.
The enamel miniature of the “bateau commercial”, after a painting by Diedrich A. Kniffka, was commissioned to one of the firm’s longstanding and talented enamellists, J.L. Péter, who signed and dated the work once finished in 2003. An especially decorated back cover chased with nautical symbols completed the watch and it was collected by the proud new owner at Patek Philippe’s German retailer G.D. Wempe on 31 August 2003.
This superb and extremely rare example of a Patek Philippe’s dress watch made to special order, embellished with an enamel miniature painting, a small work of art in its own rights, is now consigned for auction by his wife.
In like new condition, of private provenance and fresh to the market, this reference 865/224 must be considered a highlight for the collectors of unique timepieces and nautical memorabilias alike.