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Lot Essay
Christie’s is extremely honoured to be able to offer to our clients, international collectors and all admirers of Patek Philippe, this stunning vintage yellow gold reference 1436J split-seconds chronograph with magnificent ultra-rare black dial. Without question, the finest example of the reference to appear at auction in many years, this world-class wristwatch is in fantastic original condition and represents the all too scarce opportunity to add an important Patek Philippe vintage ‘golden age’ classic to any distinguished collection.
Of outstanding quality and elegance of design, reference 1436 is among the pinnacles of Patek Philippe’s mid-century production, and in fact it was the first split-seconds chronograph ever to be produced in series. The design of the dial is very pleasing to the eye with prominence given to the tachymeter scale and the applied indexes. The split-seconds chronograph function enables the timing of two events at the same time, for instance two cars racing, and has a 30-minute counter for single events of longer than one minute in duration.
Only 120 yellow gold examples of reference 1436 were made in the approximately 33 year production period from 1938 until it was discontinued in 1971. The present watch is one of only 59 examples in yellow gold known publicly today and one of perhaps less than half a dozen pieces known with a black dial. It is possibly the only known example with a black dial of this precise dial configuration. Reference 1436 was made in two generations with different construction in regard to the operation of the chronograph function. For the first generation, made until the late 1940s, the crown serves as a button to split and reunite the two seconds hand. The second generation was fitted with a co-axial push button within the crown for the split seconds function.
The Dial
Made by Stern Frères, solid gold base plate, black with applied yellow gold baton and Arabic numerals, gilt printed outer minute track, tachymeter scale and subsidiary dials, gold ‘baton’ hour and minute hands. The celebrated Stern Frères turned the dial production into a real art. The present example is a paradigm of simplicity and elegance.
The Case
Made by Emile Vichet and later examples by Ponti Gennari, three-piece 18K yellow gold with snap on back and snap on bezel, inside case back with the maker’s signature, punched by Patek Philippe, Switzerland designation always at the same position and punched at the same time as the signature, Swiss ‘Helvetia’ hallmark, 18K/0.750 for the gold title punched by the casemaker, case number generally punched by the casemaker following Patek Philippe’s instructions. Two Swiss gold hallmarks on the main body, the head of Helvetia and the “G” for Geneva underneath.
Reference 1436
The model was introduced shortly after the launch of the reference 130 to satisfy demand from customers who requested a chronograph that was capable of timing two events simultaneously. Since its introduction to the market in 1938, reference 1436 remained the best known split seconds chronograph model produced by Patek Philippe. It was predominantly cased in either yellow or pink gold, no examples are known to date in white gold or platinum. The cases were made by Emile Vichet and for the later watches, Ponti Gennari. The elegant reference 1436 and its high quality and complex movement certainly marked a peak in the evolution of technical wristwatches - an area in which Patek Philippe has been foremost for generations. During over 30 years of production, reference 1436 saw a fascinating development both technically and aesthetically. Numerous dial designs have been given to this model and were made by Stern Frères.
Of outstanding quality and elegance of design, reference 1436 is among the pinnacles of Patek Philippe’s mid-century production, and in fact it was the first split-seconds chronograph ever to be produced in series. The design of the dial is very pleasing to the eye with prominence given to the tachymeter scale and the applied indexes. The split-seconds chronograph function enables the timing of two events at the same time, for instance two cars racing, and has a 30-minute counter for single events of longer than one minute in duration.
Only 120 yellow gold examples of reference 1436 were made in the approximately 33 year production period from 1938 until it was discontinued in 1971. The present watch is one of only 59 examples in yellow gold known publicly today and one of perhaps less than half a dozen pieces known with a black dial. It is possibly the only known example with a black dial of this precise dial configuration. Reference 1436 was made in two generations with different construction in regard to the operation of the chronograph function. For the first generation, made until the late 1940s, the crown serves as a button to split and reunite the two seconds hand. The second generation was fitted with a co-axial push button within the crown for the split seconds function.
The Dial
Made by Stern Frères, solid gold base plate, black with applied yellow gold baton and Arabic numerals, gilt printed outer minute track, tachymeter scale and subsidiary dials, gold ‘baton’ hour and minute hands. The celebrated Stern Frères turned the dial production into a real art. The present example is a paradigm of simplicity and elegance.
The Case
Made by Emile Vichet and later examples by Ponti Gennari, three-piece 18K yellow gold with snap on back and snap on bezel, inside case back with the maker’s signature, punched by Patek Philippe, Switzerland designation always at the same position and punched at the same time as the signature, Swiss ‘Helvetia’ hallmark, 18K/0.750 for the gold title punched by the casemaker, case number generally punched by the casemaker following Patek Philippe’s instructions. Two Swiss gold hallmarks on the main body, the head of Helvetia and the “G” for Geneva underneath.
Reference 1436
The model was introduced shortly after the launch of the reference 130 to satisfy demand from customers who requested a chronograph that was capable of timing two events simultaneously. Since its introduction to the market in 1938, reference 1436 remained the best known split seconds chronograph model produced by Patek Philippe. It was predominantly cased in either yellow or pink gold, no examples are known to date in white gold or platinum. The cases were made by Emile Vichet and for the later watches, Ponti Gennari. The elegant reference 1436 and its high quality and complex movement certainly marked a peak in the evolution of technical wristwatches - an area in which Patek Philippe has been foremost for generations. During over 30 years of production, reference 1436 saw a fascinating development both technically and aesthetically. Numerous dial designs have been given to this model and were made by Stern Frères.