Jonathan Darracott
Global Head
Lot 107Y
Patek Philippe. A very rare and fine 18K gold manual wind perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phase Ref: 1518, Manufactured 1947, Sold April 6th 1948
19 June 2019, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £331,312.50 inc. premium
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Penelope Andrews
Head of Department
Charles Dower
Head of sale, Knightsbridge
Patek Philippe. A very rare and fine 18K gold manual wind perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phase
Reference: 1518
Date: Manufactured 1947, Sold April 6th 1948
Movement: 23-jewel Cal.13 Q manual wind, lever escapement, cut bi-metallic balance with balance gold compensation screws, 8 adjustments, blued steel Breguet Style overcoil balance spring, swan neck micrometer regulator, No.867083
Dial: Silvered, applied 18K gold Arabic numerals, incise black hard enamel indexing and signature, outer 1/5th second divisions and tachometer markers, subsidiary dials at 3, 6 and 9 for constant seconds, 30 minute recording and date with aperture revealing blue enamel moon phase indication, bevelled edge apertures for day and month at 12, highly polished gold pointed baton hands, blued steel centre chronograph hand
Case: Polished round, snap on back, rectangular chronograph pushers, quick set buttons at 7, 9 and 12, No.649545, with hallmark on back of 11 o'clock lug
Strap/Bracelet: Black lizard leather
Buckle/Clasp: Associated 14K gold buckle
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 35mm
Accompaniments: Patek Philippe pouch, Extract from the Archives
Date: Manufactured 1947, Sold April 6th 1948
Movement: 23-jewel Cal.13 Q manual wind, lever escapement, cut bi-metallic balance with balance gold compensation screws, 8 adjustments, blued steel Breguet Style overcoil balance spring, swan neck micrometer regulator, No.867083
Dial: Silvered, applied 18K gold Arabic numerals, incise black hard enamel indexing and signature, outer 1/5th second divisions and tachometer markers, subsidiary dials at 3, 6 and 9 for constant seconds, 30 minute recording and date with aperture revealing blue enamel moon phase indication, bevelled edge apertures for day and month at 12, highly polished gold pointed baton hands, blued steel centre chronograph hand
Case: Polished round, snap on back, rectangular chronograph pushers, quick set buttons at 7, 9 and 12, No.649545, with hallmark on back of 11 o'clock lug
Strap/Bracelet: Black lizard leather
Buckle/Clasp: Associated 14K gold buckle
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 35mm
Accompaniments: Patek Philippe pouch, Extract from the Archives
Footnotes
The reference 1518 was in production between 1941 and 1954. Over the years, the dial and case design only went through very minor changes. The shape of the case of the current lot is of the second generation with the pushers situated slightly closer towards the case back. The dial carries the earlier long signature of 'Patek Philippe and Co Geneve' incised into the dial with black Hard enamel paint, which makes it one of the most durable dials in the history of Patek Philippe.
Every vintage watch has seen a different life and has a different story to tell. In the case of the extraordinary 1518 we are pleased to offer, the watch has seen wear in the way Antoni Patek and Adrien Philippe without doubt would have envisaged for it. Used as a Sunday watch for most of its life, it shows enough signs of careful wear to give it character, while the case and dial still remain in excellent condition. Over the past few years, when the watch experienced less use, a light patina built up on the case between the pushers and crown. It is very rare to have a reference 1518 that has been held by one family making its first appearance at auction.
Only 281 examples of the Reference 1518 were ever produced, of which around 215 were in yellow gold. Perpetual calendar chronographs by Patek Philippe represent the pinnacle of complication watchmaking.
