Patek Philippe Vintage 8-Days Power Reserve Watches

quattro · 2025-05-12T20:32:17Z

Explore Patek Philippe's ultra-rare 1930s 8-Days Power Reserve vintage watches. Quattro details their history, movements, and auction records.

quattro

WPS member · Patek Philippe forum

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Emmanuel, known as 'quattro' on WatchProSite, delves into the rarely seen vintage Patek Philippe 8-Days power reserve wristwatches from the 1930s. His meticulous research uncovers the origins and auction histories of these three exceptionally rare timepieces, providing invaluable context for understanding Patek Philippe's early forays into extended power reserve complications. This article serves as a crucial reference for collectors interested in the historical lineage of Patek Philippe's 8-Days models, bridging the gap between contemporary releases and their vintage predecessors.

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Patek Philippe recently released a new 8-Days model, ref. 5328G-001, which is a round interpretation of the rectangular Gondolo, ref. 5200G-001 (a dedicated thread can be found here).

But, doing some research, I discovered that during the 1930s Patek Philippe made four 8-Days movements (modified versions of the LeCoultre rectangular 9’’’ Cal. 124), three of which have become actual wristwatches.

Let's dive in!

Best, Emmanuel

A/ Movement n° 198.443 & case n° 609.409, made in 1931 and retailed by Brock & Company, Los Angeles on December 9, 1933

Case: yellow gold with platinum bezel, 23 x 39 mm.

NB: this particular yellow gold/platinum case n° 609.409 originally housed the movement n° 198.451 of example C (cf. below). In 1931, the movement of the present example (A) left the factory with a full platinum case (n° 604.395), the whereabouts of which remain unknown to this date.

This watch was sold as lot 489 at Sotheby’s New York in June 1995 and subsequently resold at Antiquorum Geneva, on October 11, 2003 as lot 558.

credit: sotheby’s & antiquorum

B/ Movement n° 198.450 & case n° 609.407, manufactured in 1931 and sold on June 21st, 1932

Case: yellow gold, 22.5 x 38.45 mm

This watch was sold as lot 131 at Bonhams "The Art of Time", New-York, on December 4, 2017 and then resold as lot 107 at Sotheby's "Important Watches", New-York, on December 5, 2018.

Examples A & B side by side

credit: sotheby’s (1), Bonhams (2-7) & uhrenkosmos (8)

C/ Movement n° 198.451 & case n° 2.818.152, made in 1931 and sold by Brock & Company, Los Angeles on December 4th, 1933

Case: yellow gold, ? x 38 x 8 mm

NB: the present movement no.198.451 left the factory in case n° 609.409 now belonging to example A (cf. above). During a service in October 1984, it was fitted in a new case n° 2.818.152 with the unique ref. 3655 (so this watch is now considered as being ref. 3655).

This watch was sold at Sotheby's New York, on October 1987 as lot 178. It was subsequently proposed as lot 257 at Sotheby’s New-York, June 10, 2013 where it remained unsold. Finally it was resold at Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2014 as lot 268.

credit: sotheby’s & @alphabeta81

D/ Uncased movement n° 198.309

This fourth movement has remained uncased and is only illustrated in the book Patek Philippe Watches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery (Second Edition, Vol. II, p.33, fig. 30).

About the Patek Philippe Gondolo 8 Days Ref. 5200

The Patek Philippe Complications Reference 5200G-001, known as the Gondolo 8 Days, Day & Night Indicator, represents a significant offering within the brand's rectangular-cased Gondolo collection. This reference stands out for its sophisticated rectangular form factor and the integration of multiple practical complications, distinguishing it from simpler time-only models and more complex grand complications. It was introduced as a notable addition to Patek Philippe's lineup of shaped watches, emphasizing technical innovation within a classic design language.

This timepiece features an 18k white gold case, measuring 32.4 mm x 46.9 mm, with a case thickness of 10.4 mm. The watch is powered by the manual-wind caliber 28-20 REC 8J PS IRM C J, a movement specifically designed for this rectangular case, offering an impressive power reserve of 8 days (192 hours). The dial is protected by a sapphire crystal, and the watch is water-resistant to 30 meters. The movement is visible through a sapphire crystal case back.

For collectors, the Reference 5200G-001 appeals to those who appreciate Patek Philippe's commitment to traditional watchmaking and the development of shaped movements. Its long power reserve and day/night indicator, combined with the distinctive Gondolo case, position it as a compelling choice for enthusiasts seeking a blend of technical prowess and refined aesthetics outside of the more common round-cased watches. The reference was produced from 2013 to 2019.

Specifications

Caliber: 28-20 REC 8J PS IRM C J

Case: 18k White Gold

Diameter: 32.4 mm x 46.9 mm

Dial: Blue

Water Resist.: 30m

Crystal: Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

This thread is discussion-light, but quattro's original post provides a comprehensive and detailed historical account of these rare Patek Philippe 8-Days vintage references.

The Discussion

KMII

May 13, 2025

Another great find 🙌🏻

quattro

May 13, 2025

I'm glad you enjoy this find. Best, Emmanuel

quattro

May 13, 2025

I just wish we had "live" photos of it. Best, Emmanuel

quattro

May 13, 2025

It's a pity we can't find some true live photos of them. Best, Emmanuel

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Patek Philippe Vintage 8-Days Power Reserve Watches

About the Patek Philippe Gondolo 8 Days Ref. 5200

Specifications

Key Points from the Discussion

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