Lewis Walduck
Cataloguer
Lot 73
A fine and rare mid 20th century gilt brass solar powered desk timepiece Patek Philippe Genève No 70101
2 July 2025, 13:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £8,960 inc. premium
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A fine and rare mid 20th century gilt brass solar powered desk timepiece
Patek Philippe Genève No 70101
The cylindrical brass case decorated with an engraved geometric 'sinewave' pattern, the domed upper section similarly engraved around the solar cells.
The 4 inch cream rectangular dial with applied brushed gilt chapter ring and circular indexes with gilt dauphine hands. The solar-powered caliber 17-250 movement driven by a photoelectric cell with lithium battery backup, remontoir train winding the barrel spring, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, and self-compensating Breguet balance spring. 22cms high (8.75ins).
The cylindrical brass case decorated with an engraved geometric 'sinewave' pattern, the domed upper section similarly engraved around the solar cells.
The 4 inch cream rectangular dial with applied brushed gilt chapter ring and circular indexes with gilt dauphine hands. The solar-powered caliber 17-250 movement driven by a photoelectric cell with lithium battery backup, remontoir train winding the barrel spring, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, and self-compensating Breguet balance spring. 22cms high (8.75ins).
Footnotes
While the earliest photoelectric clocks stored energy by mechanically winding a spring to drive the movement, Patek Philippe introduced a revolutionary advancement by developing a light-powered mechanism with additional storage in an electronic accumulator. Combining traditional horology with modern innovation, the firm integrated photoelectric cells into their mechanical 17"' movement, securing Patent 298564 for photoelectric energy in 1954. This ground-breaking invention was exhibited at the 1955 World Symposium and later displayed at the Museum of Science in Boston.
Patek Philippe continues to produce a limited number of light-powered Dome table clocks annually, each featuring the signature rotating top dome with an aperture for the photoelectric cell and tri-panel sides forming a visual narrative. Whilst the majority of the solar domed clocks can be found with unique and beautiful artisan cloisonné enamels, this present lot is unusual as the engraved gilt brass is elegant in its simplicity, the focus is directed towards the function rather than merely its form.
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