Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe Pocket watches – some of the most known collectors of fine watches …

 

… at least started their collections with pocket watches. OK, most of them did it a long time ago. Still we talk quite often about some of them – e.g. James Ward Packard or Henry Graves Jr.. The latter are mainly famous for their lust for Grande Complications, but they also collected “simpler” pieces as long as they were outstanding in precision, beauty and so on.

 

Last weekend I and my family attended an event at an AD. There have been lots of watches and jewelry (!) on display – from several well-known brands.

Only one piece caught my wives attention and trust me I was surprised.

She really liked this “simple” pocket watch, because of its simplicity and mainly because of the execution of the dial.

Pocket watches, we don´t talk a lot about them. Are they still of interest? Are they still collectible? What is more interesting and/or desirable – vintage pieces or current production? …?

 

To start the discussion I will show a small selection of pieces from the PP Museum and from the current production.

 

Almost in the background at display, but still amazing pieces. Four pieces for slightly different tastes – probably.

“Triple Complication” from 1921, movement from Victorin Piguet & Co (Vallée de Joux)

“Dead Second” complication, from 1866

Minute repeater, chronograph, rattrapante …, from 1895, movement from Victorin Piguet & Co (Vallée de Joux)

Chronograph with 30-minutes-counter and Tachymeter scale, from 1913, 1924/27 and 1935. Movement from LeCoultre & Cie. (Geneva / Vallée de Joux)

Sidenote: I love that dial

Very big pocket watch with a 34 ½ line movement from Victorin Piguet & Co (Vallée de Joux), from 1900/01

 

“The Raven and the Fox”

Ref. 784, cal. 17-170, 1956/58

Chronometro Gondolo, movement 21´´´, from 1904

Sidenote: Richard, are you looking? I am sure you will love that 24-h indication

Minute repeater with independent jumping second …, movement from D. L. Golay (Geneva or Vallée de Joux, from 1864/65 and 1869

Lépine pocket watch with jumping hour, from 1921

Not only is the case made out of platinum, no also the dial.

Sidenote: I love the complication, the simplicity and the dial for several reasons. A wrist watch like this in the current production would be amazing …

 

We all know some of you are “crazy” because of enamel dials and especial when they come with a world timer …

Ref. 605 HU, cal. 17-170, from 1949

Star Caliber 2000 – no need for further introduction (I guess )

Short version: Two dials, 21 complications, six patent´s … after nine years of research and development.

Current production pieces are more "humble", at least most of the time, with some exceptions.

The watch from the beginning was Ref. 980 and it looks almost cold at “official” pictures.

It is anything but not cold if you look closer …

Also we have in production …

Ref. 972 and 973

 

More sophisticated/complicated examples, produced as piece´s unique – only.

Ref. 982/167 “Bayerischer Festwagen”, cal. 17´´´LEP PS IRM. 350 hours are needed, just for decoration.

Ref. 982/170 “Hirsche”, cal. 17´´´LEP PS IRM. Ten different enamel colors … and more than 100 hours of concentrated work by hand. The engraving needed additionally 150 hours.

 

So, once more:

Pocket watches, we don´t talk a lot about them. Are they still of interest? Are they still collectible? What is more interesting and/or desirable – vintage pieces or current production? …?

 

Oliver

This message has been edited by small-luxury-world on 2013-12-15 14:45:18