55,200 CHF
Patek i Spólka, No. 2064, case No. 1292, made in 1846, sold on February 20, 1847. Extremely rare and very fine 18K gold and enamel, diamond-set miniature watch in fitted box. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions. Gold Breguet hands. Notes At the time this watch was made, the Polish market was the most important market for Patek. In a letter to his friend Wieloglowski, dated February 20, 1844, Patek expressed this sentiment: “Our manufacture is not doing as well as in former years, because only a very few of our people [Poles] come here.” This is an excellent example of the watches the company destined for that market. Patek Philippe became famous during the 1851 London Exhibition, where the company presented the smallest watch in the world o. 3503. There was a tremendous difference in price between a regular-sized watch and a miniature one, reflecting the amount of time and skill necessary to produce such a small mechanism. The present watch is the earliest Patek Philippe miniature known. It is likely that it was this watch that triggered the company's push toward miniaturization, which four years later was to lead to the creation of the smallest watch in the world.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-11-14
