Patek Philippe

Sotheby's Geneva, 13 May 2015, Lot 150

This extraordinary wristwatch is one of the earliest chronograph wristwatches known to have been made by Patek Philippe and sheds new light on the development of this horological complication. Remarkably, until today, less than a dozen other single button, Officer cased, chronographs by Patek Philippe were known. Furthermore, extensive research suggests that less than two dozen pieces may have been made in total.

Single button chronographs hold a unique place in the small world of complicated wristwatches. Patek Philippe produced an extremely limited number of these models from 1924 until the late 1930s, with the majority known only from literature and the Patek Philippe Archives. Today, Patek Philippe still produces this ingenious complication, combined with split seconds, yet still in very small quantities (references 5959 and 5950).

This exceptional lot is one of the finest examples from the early period of complication wristwatch production. The watch features some of the characteristics found on the other ‘known’ examples. The most important element is arguably the vertically positioned subsidiary dials indicating the 30 minute chronograph register at 12 and the constant seconds at 6. The wire lugs, the hinged case and the elegant Breguet numerals are also characteristics that these exclusive watches share. However, it is also interesting to note that the ébauche of the movement, which was supplied to Victorin Piguet, is the only Officer cased example known to have a coveted 1st Quality finish and a micrometric regulator to the balance cock. The master watch making house of Victorin Piguet was based in Le Sentier, Switzerland. They had a very long and trusted relationship with Patek Philippe, enhancing their perpetual calendar movements and designing unusual complications, such as split second and single-button chronographs as seen in the present watch. 

A very similar Officer cased wristwatch, but with Second Quality ebauche by Victorin Piguet, is illustrated in Huber, Banbery, Patek Philippe Wristwatches, Second Edition, 1998, p.258, pl.398 and the same 1986, pp. 81, 258. For another example of the same calibre as the present watch, also with 1st Quality finish but without micrometric regulation and housed in a cushion case, see ob. cit. p.260, pl. 400b.

Recently serviced by Patek Philippe, this lot represents a very rare opportunity to acquire not only a historically significant wristwatch, but one of the very few single button chronograph wristwatches ever produced by Patek Philippe.