218 Patek Philippe Historically Important and Very Rare, Desk Clock in Steel, With Original Walnut Presentation Box, Retailed by Wright Kay & Co

Estimate: €15,000 –⁠ 30,000

Model: Desk Watch
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Year: 1920s
Movement: Manual
Caliber: 21
Case N°: 610 011
Movement N°: 191 419
Dimensions: 91 mm
Signed: Dial, Movement and Case
Accessories: Box
Literature: A similar watch is published in John Goldberger Book “Patek Philippe Steel Watches” at Page 15–16

The here offered Patek Philippe display desk clock is a pleasant discovered for the market as it represents one of the rarest timepieces the brand has ever made. Produced in a series of approximately 15 known examples around the ’20s, these timepieces were originally made to supply retailers with a chronometer quality timing that could be exhibited in their stores. As a functional display, these clocks were meant to be the master timers to set the accurate time for all the other timepieces within the retailers’ cases. The inlaid metal plaques on these timepieces typically feature the name of the retailer below 6 o’clock. Examples are known to have been made for such retailers as Tiffany & Co, Shreve, and Baily, Banks & Biddle. With the presently offered example, the retailer plaque states Wright, Kay and Co. Many of the most important Patek Philippe watches sold in America during the first half of the 20th century were retailed by this historic brand. The dial layout is simple, with a matte silvered background, black enamel baton indexes, large outer five minutes scale, steel feuille hands and subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock. The dimensions are really massive, with a 91 mm circular torpédo-style three-body case with snap on back. It is a chronometer with Guillaume balance. This particular watch passed the Observatoire (Class B) competition three times: the first in 1925, the second in 1927 and the third and most important, it received the 2nd Prize in the 1929 competition, and is published with 778 points, adjusted by Wehrli. Further, the watch is accompanied by Patek Philippe original fitted walnut presentation box with two curved metal plaques.