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Lot Essay
This Patek Philippe ‘triple complication’ 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 split-seconds chronograph. It is particularly notable in being a relatively early example of a Patek Philippe triple complication movement dating from 1905 being later fitted with a custom-made Patek Philippe dial and case in 1980.
Both impressive and highly attractive, the present triple complication represents an unusual and fascinating combination of Patek Philippe’s state-of-the-art watch manufacturing spanning the early and late 20th centuries, each period a heyday of complicated and ultra-complicated timepieces.
What makes this high complication watch particularly interesting is detailed in the Extract from the Archives, which states that the present movement no. 125’293 was manufactured in 1905 and the original date of sale of the watch was in March, 1911. The Extract confirms that the original case was replaced by the present case bearing the number 125’293 during a servicing in 1980, and although not specifically mentioned, it can be assumed on stylistic grounds that the present silvered dial was also supplied at this time. The heavy 18k gold architectural modernist case is made in the classic style that is almost identical to those of mid-century triple complications such as ref. 849.
Patek Philippe’s high complication watches were always very costly and subsequently greatly treasured by their owners, sometimes for generations. As fashions changed, exceptional watches such as this were often upgraded on request in Patek Philippe’s workshops. Naturally, to fit a new gold case and make a custom dial for the present watch would have been tremendously expensive, illustrating the dedication to, and appreciation of its owner for the exceptional workmanship of Patek Philippe.
The three complications found in the present watch were first brought together in one watch in the mid-1870s. 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.
Both impressive and highly attractive, the present triple complication represents an unusual and fascinating combination of Patek Philippe’s state-of-the-art watch manufacturing spanning the early and late 20th centuries, each period a heyday of complicated and ultra-complicated timepieces.
What makes this high complication watch particularly interesting is detailed in the Extract from the Archives, which states that the present movement no. 125’293 was manufactured in 1905 and the original date of sale of the watch was in March, 1911. The Extract confirms that the original case was replaced by the present case bearing the number 125’293 during a servicing in 1980, and although not specifically mentioned, it can be assumed on stylistic grounds that the present silvered dial was also supplied at this time. The heavy 18k gold architectural modernist case is made in the classic style that is almost identical to those of mid-century triple complications such as ref. 849.
Patek Philippe’s high complication watches were always very costly and subsequently greatly treasured by their owners, sometimes for generations. As fashions changed, exceptional watches such as this were often upgraded on request in Patek Philippe’s workshops. Naturally, to fit a new gold case and make a custom dial for the present watch would have been tremendously expensive, illustrating the dedication to, and appreciation of its owner for the exceptional workmanship of Patek Philippe.
The three complications found in the present watch were first brought together in one watch in the mid-1870s. 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.