Patek Philippe

damascened nickel lever movement (12-120SC), jewelled to the centre, mono-metallic non-magnetic compensation balance, precision regulator, indirect centre seconds work visible to the back plate, soft metal movement cover, black dial, luminous Arabic numerals, case, dial and movement signed, accompanied by an Extract from the Archives

The accompanying Extract from the Patek Philippe Archives confirms that this wristwatch was manufactured in 1947 and left the factory with black dial and luminous numerals.

Provenance

The present owner's father was a security guard working night shifts at Patek Philippe in Geneva, this wristwatch was a gift from Patek Philippe to him in recognition of his dedication and integrity. As a night duty guard, the fact that the dial had luminous hands and numerals was clearly a thoughtful gesture. 

The current lot is the only example of a reference 565 known with a black military or 'explorer' style dial. With full luminous arabic numeral dial and hands, the watch is very similar in design to military and explorer wristwatches of the period by Patek Philippe and other manufacturers, especially those made for aviators. Interestingly a very similar dial was made by Patek Philippe especially for the famous aviator and Explorer, Admiral Richard E Byrd (1888-1957) for his Polar Expedition (see Erhart, R., Demesy J., Patek Philippe, p.134). Another watch with almost identical dial, no.193.430 is illustrated in Huber, M. & Banbery, A., Patek Philippe, 1982, p.161, pl.108a. No.193.430 was also with a movement cover to counter the influence of magnetic fields and was sold on 8th April 1964, almost exactly three years after the present watch was given to the present owner's father.

Only 12 centre seconds reference 565 wristwatches in steel are known from the first series of the model, none of these feature a black dial.