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Lot Essay
This extremely attractive and very rare steel dress watch is preserved in superb ‘new old stock’ condition. It also has a fascinating history. Bought into stock by the prestigious Hamburg jeweller Benecke in 1937, it was stored in their vault for the duration of World War II and survived the total destruction of the premises during the bombing of Hamburg. The watch remained in Benecke’s stock until it was bought by the present owner in 1982. Although some 45 years had passed since its production, he is, remarkably, the watch’s first private owner.
The beautiful and classical design of the dial shares much in common with the enormously desirable wristwatches of the same period and it would be the perfect complement as a pairing for the owner any vintage Patek Philippe steel wristwatch.
From the early days of watchmaking until the 1970s, manufacturers of luxury watches almost exclusively used precious metal for their timepieces. Watches cased in what was regarded as inferior metals such as stainless steel were often made on special requests only, except during World War II when out of necessity caused by the shortage of precious metal stainless steel had to be used.
The beautiful and classical design of the dial shares much in common with the enormously desirable wristwatches of the same period and it would be the perfect complement as a pairing for the owner any vintage Patek Philippe steel wristwatch.
From the early days of watchmaking until the 1970s, manufacturers of luxury watches almost exclusively used precious metal for their timepieces. Watches cased in what was regarded as inferior metals such as stainless steel were often made on special requests only, except during World War II when out of necessity caused by the shortage of precious metal stainless steel had to be used.