Patek Philippe 18k gold vintage watch - c1946

Description

Firstly, this beautiful Patek Philippe watch [Ref 1532 / Cal 9’’90 / Case 643.882 / Movement 838.864] was photographed in less than ideal light conditions, giving many of the photos a greenish hue. The watch is therefore guaranteed to be more impressive than photographed.

Dating from 1946, the watch is in very good all original condition - a collectors dream. I have included an archive extract from Patek Philippe for provenance purposes [photograph included below]. The archive extract states that the watch was sold on April 26th 1947. The watch was retailed by Favre Leuba, another famous Swiss watchamaker. During this era Favre Leuba were retailers as well as watchmakers and had a retail shop in Switzerland. The dial is double signed ‘Patek Philippe & Co’ and ‘Favre Leuba & Co’ - very rare. The watch features a solid 18ct gold case, a very clean hand wound 18 jewel movement [Cal 9’’90] and an original, unrestored dial. As mentioned, the photos do not do justice to this beautiful watch, so if you like the photos you will be thrilled with the actual watch.

My asking price is already very fair for a watch that will only rise further in value. Such is the high quality of the watch, I will include a six month written guarantee on the movement, which is long enough for you to assess it. I also include a professional insurance valuation, in excess of my asking price. Also, I offer a full refund if you are not entirely happy, as long as the watch is returned within seven days if UK customer, fourteen days if overseas, in the same condition. Please feel free to contact me to arrange to view the watch in central London.

The solid 18ct gold case is in excellent, clean condition, with no nasty polishing. It is obviously very high quality, as you would expect from Patek and measures 22mm wide, excluding the original winding crown x 37mm long, including the lugs. The case back closes perfectly and the edges of the case back are in excellent condition, showing that the case has rarely been opened and always carefully. The inside back of the case is correctly signed ‘Patek Philippe & Co', ‘Geneve’, ‘Swiss’ and the ‘643882’ case reference number.

The lovely original, unrestored silvered dial is in even condition, with minor patina. This is obviously less obvious to the naked eye than in the magnified photos, which have also made the dial look darker. It is signed 'Patek Philippe & Co’, ‘Favre Leuba & Co’ and ‘Swiss Made'. The baton hour markers are applied. The original 18ct gold hands, including sub seconds hand, are in very good, unbent condition. The original domed glass lens is in very good condition for its age, with minor wear but no cracks.

The hand wound Patek Philippe movement [Cal 9’’90] is excellent quality, as you would expect, centre jewelled and features ‘fausses cotes’ decoration. It is brighter in reality than photographed and is signed ‘Patek Philippe & Co’, ‘Geneve’, ‘Swiss’, the ‘2838864’ movement reference number, ‘Eighteen [18] jewels’, ‘Three [3] heat cold. isochronism’ and ‘Adjusted five [5] positions’. The movement is in simply excellent condition, winding and setting smoothly and is in perfect working order, keeping very good time.

The watch is on a used, non Patek leather strap. I’m happy to purchase a new, quality Hirsch strap for the new owner; just tell me what colour and grain you prefer. The watch comes complete with a new quality watch box, for safekeeping.

A simply superb watch from history's premier watchmaker; serious collection standard. Will provide an excellent financial investment as well as a possession to enjoy.