A fine collector's watch from the family of Oei Tiong Ham

Patek Philippe. A very fine and rare 18K gold rectangular-shaped wristwatch with flared sides and Gay Frères bracelet

SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE, GENEVE, REF. 2442, MOVEMENT NO. 976'286, CASE NO. 676'830, MANUFACTURED IN 1954

Details

Patek Philippe. A very fine and rare 18K gold rectangular-shaped wristwatch with flared sides and Gay Frères bracelet
Signed Patek Philippe, Geneve, ref. 2442, movement no. 976'286, case no. 676'830, manufactured in 1954
Cal. 9'''90 rectangular-shaped nickel-finished lever movement stamped twice with the Geneva seal, 18 jewels, Gyromax balance, swan neck regulator, the silvered matte dial with applied gold baton numerals, subsidiary seconds, in rectangular case with flared curved sides, snap on back, 18K gold Gay Frères nine-row mesh bracelet, case, dial and movement signed
43 mm. overall length

Provenance

A Fine Collector's Watch from the Family of Oei Tiong Ham
At the end of the 19th century, Southeast Asia was the focus of intense economic activity. Political uncertainty and famine in Southern China had caused large-scale migration to the region. These migrants took advantage of the area's rich natural resources and by the turn of the 20th century, great fortunes were created. Perhaps the most famous of these migrant multi-millionaires was Oei Tiong Ham, the legendary sugar baron of Java who extended his empire to include major commodities such as rubber, tobacco and tea, and established his own steamship navigation company and bank in Semarang. Oei Tiong Ham and his many offsprings were brought up in an atmosphere of wealth where expensive jewellery, diamonds and watches became an integral part of their lives.
With its provenance, this Patek Philippe watch is not only a fine example of the reference 2442, it is a reminder of the magnificence of a unique lifestyle as well as an important piece of history of Southeast Asia.

Lot Essay

Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1954 and its subsequent sale on 5 July 1956. It has never been offered in public before.

Production of reference 2442 was launched in 1948 and could be found in Patek Philippe sales catalogues until around 1960. It is one of the rarest and most exclusive rectangular models by Patek Philippe.

The model is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 136, pl. 193.

Gay Frères, located in Geneva, specialized in manufacturing jewelry but were also renowned for supplying high quality accessories such as wristwatch bracelets and chains to Switzerland's most prestigious watch companies.

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