Patek Philippe

• 9" rectangular 8 day nickel lever movement, two train winding for long duration, bi-metallic compensation balance, 23 jewels, adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions • silvered matte dial, applied gold baton indexes, subsidiary seconds, the dial further signed 8 Jours • 18k yellow gold rectangular case • case, dial and movement signed

A European Collection sold Sotheby's New York, 1987, lot 178
An American Collection 1987- until present

Kahlert, H., Muhe, R. and Brunner, G., Armbanduhren, 1983, p. 38 pl.137 bottom left corner (archive photo)
Nencini, Negretti, I Signori del Tempo, 1986, p.168, pl.103
Huber, M., & Banbery, A., Patek Philippe, Wristwatches, Vol.II, 1st Edition,1988 p.100, fig.123 (archive photo)

Please note that the movement has not been checked for timekeeping accuracy and Sotheby's will not be held responsible for any repairs should they be require. The watch has been well maintained since purchase in 1987. Movement in running order, but would benefit from cleaning. The dial spotted and can be cleaned. Case has scuffing to back from wear, the gold marks retain good definition. **The strap of this watch contains endangered species; please see Important Notices for further information.**
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

According to our research only four Patek Philippe 8 Day wristwatches are known. Of these, only two have been offered at auction: the first is the present lot, no.198451, and the second is no. 198443. The archives of Patek Philippe reflect that both were sold to the same retailer, Brock & Co., in Los Angeles in 1931. 

Today neither watch retains its original case. The present lot, movement no.198451 left the factory in case no. 609409 with a gold body and platinum bezel. That case currently houses the aforementioned 8 Day movement no.198443. According to our correspondence in 1995 with Patek Philippe, no. 198443 also left the factory in 1931 with a platinum case. To this day, the whereabouts of that case remain unknown.

Patek Philippe 8 Day Wristwatches

• 198309- movement only illustrated in Huber, M. & Banbery, A., Patek Philippe Watches Second Edition, Vol. II, p.33, fig. 30

• 198443- (now with case no. 609.409) sold at Sotheby’s New York, June 1995, lot 489 and subsequently re-sold at Antiquorum Geneva, October 2003, lot 558

• 198450- archive photo illustrated in Kahlert, H., Muhe, R. & Brunner, G., Armbanduhren, 1983, p. 38 middle top row

• 198451- the present lot, sold Sotheby's New York, October  1987, lot 178

Of the four known 8 day examples, the present lot is the most highly jeweled, featuring 23 jewels. The others have between 20 and 22 jewels. All four watches bore the reference number 88, no doubt a numerical nod to the 8 Day movement.

The Unique Reference Number 3655

After extensive scholarly research, no explanation or clarification has been found for this perplexing case exchange. Upon its rediscovery in the mid 1980s, the movement no.198451 no longer had a case. The usage of reference number 3655, stamped on the case of the present lot, is a highly important indicator of the value Patek Philippe placed on the rediscovered 8 Day no. 198451.

The unique reference number 3655 belongs to a series of reference numbers that Patek Philippe apparently reserved for early complicated movements which they had cased in-house. It is no coincidence that these exceptional and fascinating pieces were created in the 1980s, as vintage wristwatch collecting grew as a serious pursuit of connoisseurs.     

This special series is found in two other examples: Ref. 3651 and Ref. 3652. Ref. 3651 was a case assigned to Patek Philippe vintage chronograph movements, based on the express desire of collectors for a new chronograph wristwatch inspired by Ref. 1463. There are 12 examples of this reference known from the 1980s. Ref. 3652 was assigned to an early minute repeating movement, cased by Patek Philippe in 1985. The case number of this unique example is 2.818.356, exceptionally close to the case of the presently offered lot.

The present lot, no. 198451, was first published in the 1986 book, I Signori del Tempo, by Nencini and Negretti, one of the first books on wristwatches.

1995 Discovery

Almost 10 years after the 1987 sale of the present lot, no. 198451 at Sotheby’s New York, a great discovery was made, and with it, an added layer of complexity arose. In 1995, Sotheby’s was honored to offer the second 8 Day wristwatch at auction, with movement no. 198443 and case no. 609409.

At first glance, this watch provided the perfect opportunity to offer a Patek Philippe 8 Day wristwatch which was not only previously unknown, but also, presumably still with its original case and dial.

That assumption proved incorrect, and intertwined lives of these two watches became evident. While researching no. 198443, Sotheby’s ordered an Extract from the Archives from Patek Philippe, a service Patek Philippe did not offer at the time of the first 8 Day sale. It came as a great surprise when the firm issued an Extract from the Archives, stating that case no. 609409 was not the correct match for movement number 198443. What was even more incredible was the fact that case no. 609409 in fact belonged to the only other 8 Day watch known: no. 198451 sold by Sotheby’s in 1987, and offered as the present lot. This wealth of information supplied through correspondence with Patek Philippe at once created issues and solved them. The notion that after this 80-year mystery, movement 198451 could be reunited with its original case 609.409 is simply too extraordinary to resist.

Regardless of the outcome, the offering of the present 8 Day wristwatch quite possibly provides the discerning collector the last opportunity to own this Iconic Patek Philippe.