Fine Watches
Fine Watches
Retailed by Tiffany & Co.: A yellow gold open faced minute repeating watch with gilt dial, Made in 1919
Lot Closed
September 2, 05:51 PM GMT
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Retailed by Tiffany & Co.: A yellow gold open faced minute repeating watch with gilt dial, Made in 1919
Dial: gilt, Breguet numerals
Caliber: 18'" ligne movement
Movement number: 174'951
Case: 18k yellow gold, personally inscribed cuvette, monogrammed hinged back
Case number: 174'951
Size: 48 mm diameter
Signed: case and movement signed by maker and retailer, dial signed by retailer
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the date of sale on November 4, 1920 and that the original case was replaced with a Tiffany case bearing the case number 174'951
Philippe & Co. Extra Fine Watches and Repeaters’, the ad copy states these watches are ‘acknowledged by experts to be quite the finest made anywhere in the world. They range in price from 18 jewels at $125 USD to 31 jeweled repeaters at $425 USD.’ This is one of those watches, the best of the best from the period. For a point of comparison, a well-off family spent an average of $28 USD per month at the time for food. This Extra Quality movement from Patek Philippe indeed represented the best that money could buy, from its high octane minute repeating movement, hand-engraved gold dial, and brilliantly executed hidden hinge open face case, this was a watch that did not cut any corners. Apparently, ‘Bess’ agreed and bought this watch for ‘Arthur’ in 1920 in advance of their marriage on February 26, 1921.