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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch as a movement only in 1903 and its subsequent sale on December 26th, 1903. Further accompanied by Tiffany Timepieces by John Loring.
Few watches represent the close relationship between Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. as the presently offered lot. Historically, this watch was made at a time when the relationship between Patek Philippe and Tiffany was blossoming and the two company's intimate relationship was reaching its highest peak. Alfred G. Stein (1867-1934), a veteran Tiffany employee who left the retailer in 1889 to start his own watch importation business, earned a seat on the Patek Philippe board of directors in 1901, being the sole American to ever claim partial ownership of Patek Philippe. His influential position as a shareholder and part of the management team led the increased importation of highly complicated Patek Philippe movements that would be cased domestically in the United States by key retail partners, his former employer Tiffany & Co. being the most important. Stein remained a shareholder of Patek Philippe until 1932 when he sold his shares to Charles and Jean Stern.
Technically, a minute repeater and split seconds chronograph represent the highest level of watchmaking skills from a time period that is the golden age of technical horology. The 18 ligne complicated movement is finished to Patek Philippe's highest standards while the Tiffany & Co. case was made to the American retailer's highest specifications in the United States, boldly signed Tiffany & Co.
This watch, movement number 124'744, a specimen example of historic note, is boldly presented and illustrated in John Loring's book Tiffany Timepieces (Harry Abrams, 2004), p. 124.
See lot 306 for another fine example of the Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. collaboration.
Few watches represent the close relationship between Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. as the presently offered lot. Historically, this watch was made at a time when the relationship between Patek Philippe and Tiffany was blossoming and the two company's intimate relationship was reaching its highest peak. Alfred G. Stein (1867-1934), a veteran Tiffany employee who left the retailer in 1889 to start his own watch importation business, earned a seat on the Patek Philippe board of directors in 1901, being the sole American to ever claim partial ownership of Patek Philippe. His influential position as a shareholder and part of the management team led the increased importation of highly complicated Patek Philippe movements that would be cased domestically in the United States by key retail partners, his former employer Tiffany & Co. being the most important. Stein remained a shareholder of Patek Philippe until 1932 when he sold his shares to Charles and Jean Stern.
Technically, a minute repeater and split seconds chronograph represent the highest level of watchmaking skills from a time period that is the golden age of technical horology. The 18 ligne complicated movement is finished to Patek Philippe's highest standards while the Tiffany & Co. case was made to the American retailer's highest specifications in the United States, boldly signed Tiffany & Co.
This watch, movement number 124'744, a specimen example of historic note, is boldly presented and illustrated in John Loring's book Tiffany Timepieces (Harry Abrams, 2004), p. 124.
See lot 306 for another fine example of the Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. collaboration.