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Lot Essay
This spectacular and almost certainly unique Patek Philippe perpetual calendar pocket watch is a technically remarkable and highly attractive horological masterpiece. Chosen for its rarity, stunning looks, complexity and originality, it is undoubtedly one of the stars of the OAK Collection. As such, it is presented in perfect condition and has been maintained regardless of expense.
The present watch was an important discovery and previously unknown when it was sold as part of the now legendary Christie’s ‘Patek 175’ anniversary auction in 2014, when it was acquired by the owner of the OAK Collection.
A highly unusual example of a perpetual calendar within the family of Patek Philippe's complicated pocket watches, this specific combination of technical and aesthetic elements is, to the best of our knowledge, not found in any other watch from the period. In fact, to date no other example of such a watch is known to exist. It is therefore very likely that it is a unique piece that was made by special request for the original owner. The most immediately eye-catching feature of the present watch is the wonderful white enamel dial and the impressive size and prominence of the three subsidiary dials, which occupy a large proportion of the dial leaving only the 4, 8 and 12 numerals entirely visible. What is also immediately apparent is the absence of a moon phase indication, usually a staple of perpetual calendar watches, and a leap-year indication. The movement is of the highest quality, a distinction emphasized in Patek Philippe's original invoice: the description "Première Qualité" (first/extra quality) is written in larger size and underlined. This movement was built to chronometer standards, including a large size Guillaume balance, to ensure utmost precision. The substantial and heavy 18k gold case has a diameter of 57 mm, complementing the harmonious coordinated totality of this incredibly impressive complicated timepiece.
Quite incredibly, the original Patek Philippe numbered descriptive invoice has survived and provides a fascinating insight into the history of this extraordinary timepiece. The invoice is addressed to Mr. Manoel Castro, Valmont, Territet, (possibly Valmont-sur-Territet, a small village close to Montreux, Switzerland) and dated 18 June 1912 for the sale of watch no. 156837, the designation ‘Première Qualité’, or ‘First Quality’. The price was net 1,545 Swiss Francs. The Extract from the Archives confirms manufacture of the watch with perpetual calendar, three counters, enamel dial, subsidiary seconds and engraved monogram ‘MC’ to the case back in 1910 and its subsequent sale on 20 June 1912. No biographical information can as yet be found for Mr. Castro, possibly of Brazilian noble origin, he would have been a man of means. The amount of 1,545 Swiss Francs that he paid for the present watch in 1912 would correspond to approximately USD 200,000 today.
This almost certainly unique Patek Philippe timepiece of radically different design and construction, combined with a high precision movement is a timepiece of the utmost rarity. The lack of a moon phase disk, the oversized subsidiary dials emphasizing the calendar display and the large size of the watch result in an incredibly distinctive, technical yet harmonious look.
The Guillaume Balance
Anibal acier au nickel pour balanciers, an alloy invented by Dr. Charles Edouard Guillaume, exhibits unusual properties, both in terms of thermal expansion and in changes in elasticity.
Around 1900 Guillaume attempted to eliminate the so-called Middle Temperature Error caused by the fact that the change of rate in a timekeeper with a steel-brass bimetallic balance is approximately a linear function of temperature, while the change of rate caused by change in elasticity of a balance spring is approximately a quadratic function. Thus, it equals zero at only two temperatures, causing secondary error.
In 1899, Guillaume noted that steel with an addition of 44.4% nickel had a negative square coefficient of thermal expansion. Anibal, combined with brass in bimetallic laminae, makes expansion close to quadratic. Balances with bimetallic rims made of anibal and brass are usually called Guillaume balances. When combined with special balance springs as in the present watch, they exhibit remarkable temperature stability, on occasion not exceeding 1/50 second per day.
Provenance:
Christie’s Geneva, Patek Philippe 175, 9 November 2014, lot 24
Literature:
The only remotely comparable openface perpetual calendar watch without moon phase and ‘Extra’ quality movement with Guillaume balance, is illustrated and described in: Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches - Volume I, p. 278, Inv. P-312. This example however features four subsidiary dials of normal size, three for the calendar and one for the constant seconds.
The present watch was an important discovery and previously unknown when it was sold as part of the now legendary Christie’s ‘Patek 175’ anniversary auction in 2014, when it was acquired by the owner of the OAK Collection.
A highly unusual example of a perpetual calendar within the family of Patek Philippe's complicated pocket watches, this specific combination of technical and aesthetic elements is, to the best of our knowledge, not found in any other watch from the period. In fact, to date no other example of such a watch is known to exist. It is therefore very likely that it is a unique piece that was made by special request for the original owner. The most immediately eye-catching feature of the present watch is the wonderful white enamel dial and the impressive size and prominence of the three subsidiary dials, which occupy a large proportion of the dial leaving only the 4, 8 and 12 numerals entirely visible. What is also immediately apparent is the absence of a moon phase indication, usually a staple of perpetual calendar watches, and a leap-year indication. The movement is of the highest quality, a distinction emphasized in Patek Philippe's original invoice: the description "Première Qualité" (first/extra quality) is written in larger size and underlined. This movement was built to chronometer standards, including a large size Guillaume balance, to ensure utmost precision. The substantial and heavy 18k gold case has a diameter of 57 mm, complementing the harmonious coordinated totality of this incredibly impressive complicated timepiece.
Quite incredibly, the original Patek Philippe numbered descriptive invoice has survived and provides a fascinating insight into the history of this extraordinary timepiece. The invoice is addressed to Mr. Manoel Castro, Valmont, Territet, (possibly Valmont-sur-Territet, a small village close to Montreux, Switzerland) and dated 18 June 1912 for the sale of watch no. 156837, the designation ‘Première Qualité’, or ‘First Quality’. The price was net 1,545 Swiss Francs. The Extract from the Archives confirms manufacture of the watch with perpetual calendar, three counters, enamel dial, subsidiary seconds and engraved monogram ‘MC’ to the case back in 1910 and its subsequent sale on 20 June 1912. No biographical information can as yet be found for Mr. Castro, possibly of Brazilian noble origin, he would have been a man of means. The amount of 1,545 Swiss Francs that he paid for the present watch in 1912 would correspond to approximately USD 200,000 today.
This almost certainly unique Patek Philippe timepiece of radically different design and construction, combined with a high precision movement is a timepiece of the utmost rarity. The lack of a moon phase disk, the oversized subsidiary dials emphasizing the calendar display and the large size of the watch result in an incredibly distinctive, technical yet harmonious look.
The Guillaume Balance
Anibal acier au nickel pour balanciers, an alloy invented by Dr. Charles Edouard Guillaume, exhibits unusual properties, both in terms of thermal expansion and in changes in elasticity.
Around 1900 Guillaume attempted to eliminate the so-called Middle Temperature Error caused by the fact that the change of rate in a timekeeper with a steel-brass bimetallic balance is approximately a linear function of temperature, while the change of rate caused by change in elasticity of a balance spring is approximately a quadratic function. Thus, it equals zero at only two temperatures, causing secondary error.
In 1899, Guillaume noted that steel with an addition of 44.4% nickel had a negative square coefficient of thermal expansion. Anibal, combined with brass in bimetallic laminae, makes expansion close to quadratic. Balances with bimetallic rims made of anibal and brass are usually called Guillaume balances. When combined with special balance springs as in the present watch, they exhibit remarkable temperature stability, on occasion not exceeding 1/50 second per day.
Provenance:
Christie’s Geneva, Patek Philippe 175, 9 November 2014, lot 24
Literature:
The only remotely comparable openface perpetual calendar watch without moon phase and ‘Extra’ quality movement with Guillaume balance, is illustrated and described in: Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches - Volume I, p. 278, Inv. P-312. This example however features four subsidiary dials of normal size, three for the calendar and one for the constant seconds.