$198,750
Patek, Philippe & Cie. , Genève, Ref. 961, No. 866797, case No. 2837630. Made in 1989. Exceptionally fine and equally rare 18K gold, keyless, astronomical, minute-repeating pocket chronometer with instantaneous perpetual calendar, moon phases, 24-hour indications, Earnshaw-type spring detent chronometer escapement with free-sprung helical balance spring. Four-body, "bassine" polished, gold glazed cuvette. Silver, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, four sunk subsidiary dials for days of the week in red concentric with 24-hour indications, phases of the moon aperture, red months concentric with four year leap cycle, and red date concentric with subsidiary seconds. Notes The art of haute horology is that of combining mechanical precision with complications. It is a challenge to make the two coexist; generally speaking, complications interfere with the precision of the watch, due to the additional parts. To maintain a high level of precision and overcome the resistance of the additional springs, racks, levers and wheels of a watch with minute-repeat, calendar and moon phases, like the present watch, requires a level of precision that a select few have been able to achieve. Throughout the history of horology, very few master watchmakers have attempted to create complicated watches with detent escapements. Patek made their first chronometer watches with complications around 1844, (the serial numbers are below 10,000, and fewer than ten are known to exist), all wi
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-12-01
