87,100 CHF
Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 184315,case No. 600850, circa 1918.Extremely fine and rare, early, water-resistant,18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch. three body, massive, polished, screwed case back with ribbed edge, screwed ribbed bezel, wire lugs. white enamel with painted radial Arabic numerals, auxiliary seconds dial. "Spade" blued steel hands. Notes This watch is probably one of the first examples of a timepiece made to be worn on the wrist.The pocket watch, as its name indicates, was intended to be carried most of the time is one's pocket, therefore generally sheltered from water and dust, which are the two elements most conducive to the deterioration of precision mechanisms.The present wristwatch model, realized with extreme precision, takes into consideration the new requirements expected from a watch to be worn on the wrist, at the beginning of the 20th century; that is to say, needing to be protected from the two main corrosive agents as well as from more sudden movements and shocks.It is with a view to avoiding such risks that this watch was completed with a screw-down bezel and back, thus ensuring the water-resistance and solidity of the case.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1999-11-14
