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Lot Essay
This Patek Philippe ‘triple complication’ watch is one of the masterpieces of watchmaking for which the company has become justly famous, it combines in one watch the three complications for which Patek Philippe is most admired – minute repeating, perpetual calendar and chronograph. It is particularly notable in being an early example of a Patek Philippe perpetual calendar watch and in being fitted in an openface case rather than the more usual hunting case used at this period. Subsequently, the aesthetic is clean and modern and allows easy reading of the dial indications. The condition of this watch is exceptionally fine considering its age, the case back and hinges are crisp and tight indicating that it has been opened very few times over the last 150 years. The enamel dial remains untouched and in impeccable condition.
Between 1889 with the patent of the perpetual calendar mechanism and 1904, Patek Philippe patented many mechanisms used in its watch movements. This was an extremely important period in the company’s history when its reputation as the maker of the finest, most complicated, functional and attractive watches in the world was becoming firmly established. Most of Patek Philippe’s highly complicated movements and special projects were constructed using ebauches supplied by the legendary maker Victorin Piguet & Cie of Le Sentier, the present watch is no exception. The firm supplied most of the ébauches for complicated movements, including tourbillons, single button and split seconds chronographs, repeaters and perpetual calendars, exclusively to prestigious firms like Patek Philippe.
The three complications found in the present watch were first brought together in one watch in the mid-1870s. Only a very small number of these Patek Philippe ‘triple complication’ watches are known publicly or have ever been offered for sale at auction. A great prize of exceptional quality, the present watch would make an impressive addition to any serious watch collection.
A similar watch in a hunting case, no. 90’263, also manufactured in 1891, was sold at Christie's Geneva, 13th November 2006, lot 258. This watch is now part of the collection of the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva (Inv. P-1544).
Between 1889 with the patent of the perpetual calendar mechanism and 1904, Patek Philippe patented many mechanisms used in its watch movements. This was an extremely important period in the company’s history when its reputation as the maker of the finest, most complicated, functional and attractive watches in the world was becoming firmly established. Most of Patek Philippe’s highly complicated movements and special projects were constructed using ebauches supplied by the legendary maker Victorin Piguet & Cie of Le Sentier, the present watch is no exception. The firm supplied most of the ébauches for complicated movements, including tourbillons, single button and split seconds chronographs, repeaters and perpetual calendars, exclusively to prestigious firms like Patek Philippe.
The three complications found in the present watch were first brought together in one watch in the mid-1870s. Only a very small number of these Patek Philippe ‘triple complication’ watches are known publicly or have ever been offered for sale at auction. A great prize of exceptional quality, the present watch would make an impressive addition to any serious watch collection.
A similar watch in a hunting case, no. 90’263, also manufactured in 1891, was sold at Christie's Geneva, 13th November 2006, lot 258. This watch is now part of the collection of the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva (Inv. P-1544).