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Lot Essay
Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1983 and its subsequent sale on 22 February 1983.
The present watch is part of a series strictly limited to four examples only, made by special order of Chronometrie Beyer, Zürich, in the early 1980s for some of the company's most important clients.
Research has resulted in the identification of all four watches and it is the first time that the complete series is publicly described. It is interesting to know that three are fitted with a hunter case (reference 881/1) and one with a openface case (reference 880/1).
Movement no. 866'569
Openface, reference 880/1. Originally sold to a Swiss client, now property of a gentleman.
Movement no. 866'713
The present watch, offered publicly for the first time directly by the original owner. Plain polished hunter case, reference 881/1.
Movement no. 866'714
Engine-turned hunter case, reference 881/1. Originally sold to an American client, now in an important private collection.
Movement no. 866'721
Engine-turned hunter case, reference 881/1. Originally sold to a Swiss client. Through donation now in the collection of the Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle, Château du Mont, Le Locle.
The watch offered here for auction is varying from the other two hunter cased models as it is the only one with a plain polished case whereas the other two are both engine-turned. An other interesting difference is that it is the only watch which does not bear Beyer's distinguished signature on the dial but only the engraved internal stock number in the case.
Equation of time
At any given moment, so-called mean solar time deviates by a few minutes from true, or apparent, solar time. This difference is referred to as the equation of time. It varies from day to day and in mechanical watches can be displayed with the aid of a highly complex cam mechanism.
We are indebted to Mr. René Beyer, Chronometrie Beyer, Zürich, for his exclusive advise on these four watches.
The present watch is part of a series strictly limited to four examples only, made by special order of Chronometrie Beyer, Zürich, in the early 1980s for some of the company's most important clients.
Research has resulted in the identification of all four watches and it is the first time that the complete series is publicly described. It is interesting to know that three are fitted with a hunter case (reference 881/1) and one with a openface case (reference 880/1).
Movement no. 866'569
Openface, reference 880/1. Originally sold to a Swiss client, now property of a gentleman.
Movement no. 866'713
The present watch, offered publicly for the first time directly by the original owner. Plain polished hunter case, reference 881/1.
Movement no. 866'714
Engine-turned hunter case, reference 881/1. Originally sold to an American client, now in an important private collection.
Movement no. 866'721
Engine-turned hunter case, reference 881/1. Originally sold to a Swiss client. Through donation now in the collection of the Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle, Château du Mont, Le Locle.
The watch offered here for auction is varying from the other two hunter cased models as it is the only one with a plain polished case whereas the other two are both engine-turned. An other interesting difference is that it is the only watch which does not bear Beyer's distinguished signature on the dial but only the engraved internal stock number in the case.
Equation of time
At any given moment, so-called mean solar time deviates by a few minutes from true, or apparent, solar time. This difference is referred to as the equation of time. It varies from day to day and in mechanical watches can be displayed with the aid of a highly complex cam mechanism.
We are indebted to Mr. René Beyer, Chronometrie Beyer, Zürich, for his exclusive advise on these four watches.