View full screen - View 1 of Lot 93. World Time, Reference 1415 A yellow gold world time wristwatch with bracelet Made in 1942 | 百達翡麗 | World Time 型號 1415 黃金世界時間鍊帶腕錶，製作年份 1942.
93

Patek Philippe

World Time, Reference 1415 A yellow gold world time wristwatch with bracelet Made in 1942 | 百達翡麗 | World Time 型號 1415 黃金世界時間鍊帶腕錶，製作年份 1942

92

93

94

Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe

World Time, Reference 1415 A yellow gold world time wristwatch with bracelet Made in 1942 | 百達翡麗 | World Time 型號 1415 黃金世界時間鍊帶腕錶，製作年份 1942

World Time, Reference 1415 A yellow gold world time wristwatch with bracelet Made in 1942 | 百達翡麗 | World Time 型號 1415 黃金世界時間鍊帶腕錶，製作年份 1942

Patek Philippe


World Time, Reference 1415

A yellow gold world time wristwatch with bracelet

Made in 1942


百達翡麗

World Time 型號 1415 黃金世界時間鍊帶腕錶，製作年份 1942


Dial: white

Calibre: cal. 12''120 manual winding, 18 jewels

Movement number: 921'706

Case: 18k yellow gold, snap-on case back

Case number: 632'660

Closure: 18k yellow gold Patek Philippe bracelet and locking clasp 

Size: 31 mm diameter, bracelet circumference approximately 175 mm

Signed: case, dial and movement 

Box: no

Papers: no

Accessories: Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming date of sale on February 23, 1945

MVT: is running at the time of cataloguing.

CASE: is in good and very attractive condition considering the age and rarity of the watch. There is a very minor dent near the lower right lug. The engravings of the city names are still visible and almost undamaged. Three city names have slightly lost some colour. There are very light traces of oxidation on the bezel and between the lugs. The bracelet is in good condition.

DIAL: is in fair condition. Traces of dust particles can be seen throughout and mostly concentrated on the centre of the dial. There are grey stains visible on the hour disc, mainly on the daytime part. The 6 has lost some colour.


"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."

Ref. 1415 was first launched in 1939. According to our research, Patek Philippe made just over 80 examples of the Ref. 1415 in yellow gold. The present example belongs to the third series of the reference, distinguished by its dial configuration, hour markers, and hands. A period advertisement for the watch noted, "For men with international interests, it is indispensable." Indeed, the world time mechanism is one of the greatest successes of watchmaking, and Patek Philippe's contemporary offerings, such as Refs. 5110 (see lots 140 and 325), and are clearly inspired from these early models. The 'Heures Universelles' function of Ref. 1415 operates via the rotating bezel. When the bezel is rotated so that the home city is at the 12 o'clock position, and the watch is set to the local time zone, the 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, who was the the creator of the World Time, supervised the production of each element. Louis Cottier (1894-1996) was born in Carouge and attended the Horological School of Geneva before going to work for his father and horological mentor Emmanuel Cottier (1858-1930). Like his father, Cottier was a very talented mechanical genius and went on to develop numerous patents that changed the face of watchmaking. Reacting to the realities of the Great Depression, Cottier saw a niche in high-end watchmaking and focused his talents on the development of complicated watches. Foremost among these discoveries was his development of the world time mechanism in the 1930s. This invention would inspire some of the most iconic Patek Philippe complications.