Patek Philippe

• cal. 17'''170 world time manual winding nickel lever movement, 18 jewels • three-part silvered dial, the central raised portion with lys hands, applied Roman and dot indexes, the recessed intermediate portion indicating 24 hours with diurnal and nocturnal indication, the raised outer portion listing 41 world cities • rotating Louis Cottier designed Heures Universelles bezel, snap back, arched pendant • dial signed by maker and retailer, case and movement signed by maker

A rare and important piece, highly recommended. The movement is running at the time of cataloguing and the world time function is working as it should, however it may require service in the future. It is stamped HOX, indicating it was made for the American market. The dial shows some spotting toward the very edges, which is accurately depicted in the catalogue photograph. The case is in overall good order throughout with some surface scuffs, however there is a slight ding to the case back behind 11:00 and two smaller similar marks to the reverse of 5:00 and 6:00. The back of the pendant is engraved with very small numbers reading 17419. These are internal Tiffany markings for pieces retailed through this important retailer.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

With an Extract from the Archives confirming sale on August 5th, 1959.

Ref. 605 was created in fewer than one hundred examples in total, with production commencing in 1937 and continuing for nearly thirty years. Examples were available in yellow and pink gold, with dial color and layout variations.

The present lot is one of only two examples from Ref. 605 with the Tiffany & Co. retailer's mark to have ever been offered at auction. The other known example was offered at auction nearly thirty years ago and featured a later dial layout with applied baton indexes. The present example is thus the earliest known Ref. 605 retailed by Tiffany & Co. to ever be available to the public, and to the best of our knowledge has never been offered at auction before.

The 'Heures Universelles' function in Ref 605 is operated via the bezel, a mechanism shared by this and the wristwatch Ref. 1415. By rotating the bezel so that the home city is at the 12:00 position and setting the watch to the local time zone, the recessed 24-hour indication adjusts automatically so that one can see the current time in 41 world cities. Because the case, dial and movement are all integral to the technical function of the watch, Louis Cottier supervised the production of each element.

It is interesting to note that the present example, like many of Cottier's inventions, lists London and Paris on the same time zone, Greenwich Mean Time. On June 15th, 1940, Paris converted to Central European time due to the war. For many years, it was thought that Paris would eventually revert back to GMT, and there are Patek Philippe 'Heures Universelles' watches and wristwatches from as late as the 1970s which still list Paris and London on the same time zone.