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Lot Essay
In the same family for generations until sold at Christie’s New York in 2002, this superlative watch is offered here for only the second time at public auction. Preserved in excellent overall condition, it can be considered one of the pinnacles of 20th century precision watchmaking.
A First Prize winner at the 1932 Geneva Observatory trials, it naturally combines all aspects of the highest quality, making it an outstanding example for the uncompromising collector: one of the most revered complications, the tourbillon regulator, fitted in a superbly styled gold case with hidden hinges, in excellent condition and directly from the second private owners’ exceptional collection where it has been carefully preserved for almost 20 years.
The Extract from the Archives confirms the engraved inscription "Fabriquée pour Alastair Bradley Martin" to the inside case which has been removed at some time before its consignment to the Christie's New York sale in 2002 where the watch made its first appearance at public auction. The inscription certainly relates to the famous tennis player Alastair Bradley Martin (1915 – 2010), U.S. National Championships title winner, Tennis Hall of Fame inductee, and president of the United States Lawn Tennis Association. He was furthermore the uncle of Dr. Esmond Bradley Martin, renowned watch collector.
The present watch was awarded First Prize in its category with 787.7 points at the 1932 Geneva Astronomical Observatory competition after 44 days of testing. Hector Golay produced the tourbillon carriage, and the famed régleur Francois Modoux adjusted the watch for the competition.
Precision timekeeping has always been vital to the scientific community, and in 1873, the first annual chronometer competition was held at the Geneva Astronomical Observatory. Rigorous quantitative internationally recognized testing standards were established. The testing, which initially lasted for 40 days, consisted of placing the watches in various positions and temperature conditions. The prestigious watchmakers Patek Philippe were awarded First Prize in the competition as early as 1884.
Movement no. 198’410 was made by Patek Philippe in 1931, probably using a Charles Piguet ébauche. It has a steel tourbillon cage made by Hector Golay, fitted with a Guillaume balance to reduce timekeeping errors caused by temperature fluctuation (middle temperature error). It was regulated for observatory trial by one of Patek Philippe's most famous régleurs, François Modoux, who, along with Henri Wehrli, was responsible for the regulation of most of the watches made by Patek Philippe for the legendary and exacting watch enthusiast Henry Graves Jr. The régleurs were the highest paid workers in the watch industry because success in Observatory trials conferred reputation and prestige on the brand and therefore greater commercial success. The régleurs at Patek Philippe were regarded as the crème de la crème of the horological world.
The Tourbillon
On 10 November 1801, horological legend Abraham Louis Breguet (1747-1823) received a patent for his ingenious tourbillon invention. Breguet designed the tourbillon (or whirlwind) to compensate for fluctuations and errors in time measurement caused by the position a watch is placed in. For example, watches with traditional movements may keep excellent time when resting on a desk horizontally, but when that same watch is placed vertically in a pocket, gravity affects the frequency or rate of the escapement) and thus its accuracy. Breguet's invention compensated for these gravitational effects by placing the escapement in a revolving carriage. As the tourbillon carriage revolves (usually one entire revolution per minute), its position constantly changes and consequently the fluctuations in rate caused by gravity are averaged out. Once a tourbillon watch is properly adjusted, the effects of gravity are essentially nullified, regardless of how it is positioned.
A First Prize winner at the 1932 Geneva Observatory trials, it naturally combines all aspects of the highest quality, making it an outstanding example for the uncompromising collector: one of the most revered complications, the tourbillon regulator, fitted in a superbly styled gold case with hidden hinges, in excellent condition and directly from the second private owners’ exceptional collection where it has been carefully preserved for almost 20 years.
The Extract from the Archives confirms the engraved inscription "Fabriquée pour Alastair Bradley Martin" to the inside case which has been removed at some time before its consignment to the Christie's New York sale in 2002 where the watch made its first appearance at public auction. The inscription certainly relates to the famous tennis player Alastair Bradley Martin (1915 – 2010), U.S. National Championships title winner, Tennis Hall of Fame inductee, and president of the United States Lawn Tennis Association. He was furthermore the uncle of Dr. Esmond Bradley Martin, renowned watch collector.
The present watch was awarded First Prize in its category with 787.7 points at the 1932 Geneva Astronomical Observatory competition after 44 days of testing. Hector Golay produced the tourbillon carriage, and the famed régleur Francois Modoux adjusted the watch for the competition.
Precision timekeeping has always been vital to the scientific community, and in 1873, the first annual chronometer competition was held at the Geneva Astronomical Observatory. Rigorous quantitative internationally recognized testing standards were established. The testing, which initially lasted for 40 days, consisted of placing the watches in various positions and temperature conditions. The prestigious watchmakers Patek Philippe were awarded First Prize in the competition as early as 1884.
Movement no. 198’410 was made by Patek Philippe in 1931, probably using a Charles Piguet ébauche. It has a steel tourbillon cage made by Hector Golay, fitted with a Guillaume balance to reduce timekeeping errors caused by temperature fluctuation (middle temperature error). It was regulated for observatory trial by one of Patek Philippe's most famous régleurs, François Modoux, who, along with Henri Wehrli, was responsible for the regulation of most of the watches made by Patek Philippe for the legendary and exacting watch enthusiast Henry Graves Jr. The régleurs were the highest paid workers in the watch industry because success in Observatory trials conferred reputation and prestige on the brand and therefore greater commercial success. The régleurs at Patek Philippe were regarded as the crème de la crème of the horological world.
The Tourbillon
On 10 November 1801, horological legend Abraham Louis Breguet (1747-1823) received a patent for his ingenious tourbillon invention. Breguet designed the tourbillon (or whirlwind) to compensate for fluctuations and errors in time measurement caused by the position a watch is placed in. For example, watches with traditional movements may keep excellent time when resting on a desk horizontally, but when that same watch is placed vertically in a pocket, gravity affects the frequency or rate of the escapement) and thus its accuracy. Breguet's invention compensated for these gravitational effects by placing the escapement in a revolving carriage. As the tourbillon carriage revolves (usually one entire revolution per minute), its position constantly changes and consequently the fluctuations in rate caused by gravity are averaged out. Once a tourbillon watch is properly adjusted, the effects of gravity are essentially nullified, regardless of how it is positioned.