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The mythical ref. 1563
The Patek Philippe reference 1563 combines the split-seconds chronograph complication of reference 1436 with the waterproof case design of reference 1463 (aka the "Tasti Tondi", the round buttons).
Only three examples are known to exist, all cased in yellow gold:
- The most famous belonged to jazz genius Duke Ellington and is now property of the Patek Philippe Museum.
- The second one is known for its pulsometer scale and for having been acquired (and later sold) by Jean-Claude Biver.
- The third one is famous for its luminous Breguet numerals and hands.
Case dimensions are 34.8 x 13.8 x 42.3 mm and caliber is 13-130 R manual winding.
Enjoy this magical trio, preferably while listening to Duke Ellington's Money Jungle , with Charlie Mingus and Max Roach, another fabulous trio.
Best, Emmanuel
A/ The "Duke Ellington": movement n° 863791 & case n° 630551, made in 1946, sold on 28 July 1948 to Duke Ellington
Applied Arabic 12 & 6 and long indexes. Tachymeter scale graduated for 1,000 metres.
Lot 135 at Antiquorum Important Watches, Wristwatches and C..., New York, Omni Berkshire Place Hotel, Jun 20, 1998
Purchased by the Patek Philippe Museum on May 13 2002 at Phillips, de Pury & Luxembourg in Geneva. It was given the inventory number P-1247: see here photos taken by brandon.c at the Tokyo Grand Exhibition in 2023.
credit: hodinkee (1-5), phillips, antiquorum & Britannica
B/ The "Doctor's": movement n° 862'420 & case n° 630'552, manufactured in 1940, sold on 19 July 1941 and upgraded with the present case in 1943
Applied Arabic 12 & 6 and short indexes, two-tone dial finish with pulsometre scale printed on the silvered background.
A/ The "Luminous": movement n° 867'196 & case n° 657'132, manufactured in 1947 and sold on 30 June 1950
The Breguet numerals and track are set in hard enamel. The numerals and hands are set with luminous material.
Engraved on the case back is the name L. Estée and the initials S.G.H, a detail that is still unexplained.
The inner side of the case back bears the ref. 1463, but, as the Extract of the Archives confirms, it is a ref. 1563 as it has the split-seconds complication.
Lot 538 at Sotheby's, New York, January 1990
Lot 193 at Christie's, Geneva, November 2013
credit: hodinkee (1-9), hairspring (10-12), antiquorum (13), christie's (14) & sotheby’s (15-24)
D/ THE MAGICAL TRIO
credit: christie’s
credit: blue note
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The mythical ref. 1563
The Patek Philippe reference 1563 combines the split-seconds chronograph complication of reference 1436 with the waterproof case design of reference 1463 (aka the "Tasti Tondi", the round buttons). Only three examples are known to exist, all cased in yell...
Thank you very much, Brandon.
As you might have seen, I've included in my thread the link to your post from 2023 with these photos (doing my research for this thread, I've discovered the existence of your great post). Have a very nice weekend. Best, Emmanuel
Magnificent pieces !
The one with Brequet numerals sings loudest to me ! Each is a marvel. Thanks for the post Emmanuel !
I love the Duke version with all the blue components in the dial!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
And just the fact he wore it as much he did is still the best, too cool.😎
I would be more than happy with any of the three,
but the Duke version has indeed an aura of its own. Not only did it belong to the Duke, but it was the first made (allegedly). And it has "& Co" after "Patek Philippe". And longer indexes than the Doctor's variant (which I like better). And a tachymeter s...
Amazing pieces... The kind of watch that built the myth of Patek Philippe ! I wonder though how the Rattrapante operates in a chronograph with 2 pushers...?
I guess: - Start / Stop button - Rattrapante / Reset button
I think the crown is a pusher too.
My guess is: start/stop with top pusher, split start/stop with crown, reset with bottom pusher... Just a guess, though. Best, Emmanuel
Yes, clearly, the crown isn't flush to the case,
like in the single-button chronographs, which strongly suggests that it's a pusher: www.watchprosite.com
Yes, this variant is gorgeous,
even if I also like many details of the Ellington. Best, Emmanuel