PATEK PHILIPPE. A HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE AND VERY RARE 18K GOLD CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BREGUET NUMERALS AND TACHYMETRE SCALE
PATEK PHILIPPE. A HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE AND VERY RARE 18K GOLD CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BREGUET NUMERALS AND TACHYMETRE SCALE
PATEK PHILIPPE. A HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE AND VERY RARE 18K GOLD CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BREGUET NUMERALS AND TACHYMETRE SCALE
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PATEK PHILIPPE. A HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE AND VERY RARE 18K GOLD CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BREGUET NUMERALS AND TACHYMETRE SCALE
6 More
Please note, the endangered species strap is shown… Read more
PATEK PHILIPPE. A HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE AND VERY RARE 18K GOLD CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BREGUET NUMERALS AND TACHYMETRE SCALE

REF. 1463, MANUFACTURED IN 1951

Details
PATEK PHILIPPE. A HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE AND VERY RARE 18K GOLD CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH WITH BREGUET NUMERALS AND TACHYMETRE SCALE
REF. 1463, MANUFACTURED IN 1951
Movement: Manual
Dial: Silvered with Breguet numerals
Case: 35 mm.
With: 18k gold buckle, Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives and a comprehensive study booklet by Tortella & Sons
Remark: Fresh to the market
Note: Serial numbers are available upon request
Special notice
Please note, the endangered species strap is shown for display purposes only and is not for sale. For further information please refer to the Conditions of Sale.

Brought to you by

Alexandre Bigler
Alexandre Bigler SVP, Head of Watches, Asia Pacific

Lot Essay

The desirability of the reference 1463, Patek Philippe’s only vintage chronograph with a ‘water-resistant’ case and round chronograph pushers, has never ceased. Around 740 pieces were made in yellow gold, pink gold and stainless steel. Out of around 100 reference 1463 known publicly with Breguet numerals across all case colours, only 17 yellow gold examples are known. Furthermore, the present watch features a tachymeter scale calibrated in Miles rather than the usual Kilometers indicating that it was intended for the American market. A great rarity with the most desirable dial configuration, this eminently wearable vintage work of watchmaker’s art will impress the even the most discerning of collectors.


Considered one the most beautifully designed chronographs of the mid-20th century, reference 1463 is Patek Philippe's regular production vintage chronograph model (aside from the 1563) with screw back case and round pushers. The second series case of the present watch displays beautiful heavy downturned lugs and a large gold crown. Made by Taubert (formerly Fréres Borgel), it is water and dust resistant, a soft-iron dust cap also protects the movement. The overall look of this resplendent timepiece with the raised hard enamelled signatures and scales leaves no doubt that reference 1463 with Breguet numerals is one of Patek Philippe’s all-time classics and one of the ultimate vintage chronographs for the collector to own.

The Dial
The dial design seen on this watch can be considered one of the great all-time classics of Patek Philippe, in fact after almost 70 years its influence is still seen to this day in the contemporary chronograph collections. Made entirely by hand by Stern Frères, who had always worked very closely with Patek Philippe, being the only company with the know-how to make the perfect dials that were essential for their watches. In fact, Stern Frères dials for complicated watches were reserved almost exclusively for Patek Philippe who were additionally offered the first and exclusive choice on each new design or technique as it was developed. The present dial has engraved and enamelled decoration (signature, tachymeter, minutes/seconds scale and subsidiary dials). Once the features were engraved from a template, the enamellers would fill the engraved recesses with enamel and ‘fire’ the dial up to a temperature of around 900 degrees therefore rendering the details both permanent and impervious. Both registers are sunk, using an engraving machine and the gold applied Breguet hour numerals are cut, faceted and polished by all hand.

The Case
Two-piece ‘water-resistant’ with screw-down back, made by Taubert, Geneva master case-maker whose mark of the number 11 within a key is punched on the interior of the back. Overall it is very well preserved and the crown and pushers are likely original and period correct.

The Movement
Caliber 13’’’ 130, rhodiumed brass, based on a Valjoux 13’’’ ébauche, 23 jewels, 18’000 oscillations, swan neck micrometric (high precision) adjustment. The caliber 13’’’ 130, especially and exclusively made for Patek Philippe, was used from 1936 to 1985, a record 50 years, without any changes besides the shape of the main bridge in the first year or two, the micrometric balance regulator was introduced around 1938 on some movements and from around 1940 on all the production of the caliber.

Reference 1463 is one of the most highly prized vintage Patek Philippe chronographs on the market today. The ownership of a 1463 of any type is already regarded as a statement of exclusivity and discernment, the present watch with Breguet numerals is therefore one of the great trophy watches of the reference. The new custodian of this beautiful chronograph will have the honour of beginning the next chapter in its illustrious history.


For further study of the reference 1463 see:
‘Patek Philippe Wristwatches’, Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, 1998 edition, p. 267, and for calibre 13’’’-130 see: pp. 262, 265 & 269.
Similar watches are illustrated in: ‘Patek Philippe Museum’, Patek Philippe, 2014 edition, vol. II, pp. 268-269.
Ref. 1463 is also illustrated in ‘Blue Book 1, Study on Patek Philippe Wristwatches’, 2018 edition, pp. 320-345.

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