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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1913 and its subsequent sale on December 11th, 1925. The extract further confirms the watch was issued a Geneva Observatory rating certificate on September 22nd, 1920.
To the best of our knowledge, this watch has never before been offered in public. Patek Philippe gold pocket chronometers with power reserve indicators are rare to the market.
The present owner acquired this fine and rare timepiece from the estate of Marilyn Prescott Graves (b. 1932) upon her death in 1998. Ms. Graves was the granddaughter of Henry Graves Jr. (1868-1953) and daughter of Duncan Preston Graves (1900-1977) whose will designated Marilyn as his sole heir.
Henry Graves Jr. (1868-1953) is considered one of the most important patrons of the famed Patek Philippe firm. Born in to a banking family, Graves was a businessman, collector and sportsman. He is well-known for his love of watches and in particular his commission of many complicated and unusual Patek Philippe timepieces. Graves along with automobile industrialist James Ward Packard pushed the limits of watch making by challenging Patek Philippe's master watch makers to produce ever more complicated timepieces. Graves won eventually the race when Patek Philippe delivered to him the Supercomplication pocket watch in 1933, the most complicated watch ever produced by Patek Philippe until then including 24 complications. It took Patek Philippe over five years to produce this technical marvel. There are no exact records on the number of watches Mr. Graves ordered from Patek Philippe, however it is understood that he commissioned approximately 30 timepieces in all. To date there are 15 known watches owned by Mr. Graves and the current watch brings the number to 16.
According to our research the watch was originally delivered to Bailey, Banks and Biddle on October 14th, 1921. The watch is engraved with the well-known family crest and motto Esse Quam Videri-To Be Rather Than to Seem.
A similar watch is illustrated in Patek Philippe by M. Huber and A. Banberry, 1993, plate 99, p. 153.
To the best of our knowledge, this watch has never before been offered in public. Patek Philippe gold pocket chronometers with power reserve indicators are rare to the market.
The present owner acquired this fine and rare timepiece from the estate of Marilyn Prescott Graves (b. 1932) upon her death in 1998. Ms. Graves was the granddaughter of Henry Graves Jr. (1868-1953) and daughter of Duncan Preston Graves (1900-1977) whose will designated Marilyn as his sole heir.
Henry Graves Jr. (1868-1953) is considered one of the most important patrons of the famed Patek Philippe firm. Born in to a banking family, Graves was a businessman, collector and sportsman. He is well-known for his love of watches and in particular his commission of many complicated and unusual Patek Philippe timepieces. Graves along with automobile industrialist James Ward Packard pushed the limits of watch making by challenging Patek Philippe's master watch makers to produce ever more complicated timepieces. Graves won eventually the race when Patek Philippe delivered to him the Supercomplication pocket watch in 1933, the most complicated watch ever produced by Patek Philippe until then including 24 complications. It took Patek Philippe over five years to produce this technical marvel. There are no exact records on the number of watches Mr. Graves ordered from Patek Philippe, however it is understood that he commissioned approximately 30 timepieces in all. To date there are 15 known watches owned by Mr. Graves and the current watch brings the number to 16.
According to our research the watch was originally delivered to Bailey, Banks and Biddle on October 14th, 1921. The watch is engraved with the well-known family crest and motto Esse Quam Videri-To Be Rather Than to Seem.
A similar watch is illustrated in Patek Philippe by M. Huber and A. Banberry, 1993, plate 99, p. 153.