90 Patek Philippe Fresh to the Market, Very Important and Extremely Rare, Single Button Split Seconds Chronograph, Wristwatch in Yellow Gold, Vertical Registers, With Patek Philippe Service, Extract from the Archives, Former Property of Sir Henry Segrave

Estimate: € 500,000 –⁠ 1,000,000

Sold € 1,796,000

Model: Split-Seconds Single-Button Chronograph
Reference: 7J
Case Material: Yellow Gold
Bracelet Material: Leather Strap
Year: 1927
Movement: Manual
Caliber: 13
Case N°: 606828
Movement N°: 198142
Dimensions: 34 x 43 mm
Signed: Dial, Movement and Case
Accessories: Service Box, Extract from the Archives, Double Service and Mr. Tortella and sons "deep-study" documentation
Literature: Similar example of Patek Philippe’s Split-seconds Monopusher with the same Victorin Piguet movement that have been sold in recent years: 1996, 20th April, Antiquorum’s “Important Watches, Wristwatches and clocks” Geneva Auction, lot 263 for CHF 707,500 - 1999, 14th November, Antiquorum’s “The Art of Patek Philippe, Legendary Watches” Geneva Auction, lot 448 for CHF 2,973,500 - 2006, 13th November, Christie’s “Important Pocket Watches and Wristwatches” Geneva Auction, as lot 266 for CHF 2,372,000 - 2014, 10th June, Sotheby’s “Watches” New York Auction, as lot 175 for USD 2,965,000

This exceptional timepiece stands as a testament to the power of watches to encapsulate stories, embodying history itself. It unveils a narrative steeped in resilience, fatality, and friendship, marking it as a potentially unique offering at auction, both in its configuration and its unparalleled story. Highlighting its significance, two similar pieces are permanently displayed at the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, with a notable history of similar examples fetching high million-dollar figures at auction. Crafted in the late 1920s, this yellow-gold cushion-shaped chronograph by Patek Philippe is exceedingly rare, appealing to collectors for its unique design and the large, yet elegant cushion-shaped case, which was unusual for its time. The silvered dial, adorned with striking black enameled Breguet numerals, vertical counters, an outer tachymeter scale, and Art-Deco decorations, renders this watch not just a timepiece but a relic of its era. The watch’s provenance is unmatched, elevating it to one of the most significant and historically important wristwatches ever crafted by Patek Philippe. The movement, manufactured by Victorin Piguet before the Great Depression in 1927 and sold during this period in 1929, carries a fascinating history, underscored by the engraving “de Hane Segrave - from H.G.S.Jr 1929.” The recipient, Sir Henry O'Neal de Hane Segrave, an American-born English racer known for his world speed records, received this watch as a gift from Harry Gordon Selfridge Jr., son of the American retail magnate. This piece not only symbolizes their friendship but also journeys through a captivating history involving aviation and motor racing legends. The watch's narrative deepens with its connection to Amelia Earhart, the American aviation pioneer and the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Earhart became an influential figure in aviation, setting numerous records and promoting commercial air travel, marking this incredible Patek Philippe as a piece worn by figures of monumental historical significance. Its journey, from Segrave to Earhart, through moments of triumph and tragedy, imbues this watch with a soulful character rarely found in timepieces. Offered for the first time at auction, this watch is not merely a part of Patek Philippe's illustrious history but a tangible piece of American and global heritage, with evidence that the watch was owned and worn extensively by all three characters, Selfridge, Segrave and Earhart. Additionally, photographic proof is found showing Segrave and Earhart wearing and enjoying the watch during their time of ownership. It has been meticulously restored by Patek Philippe, with documentation from the Atelier, an Extract from the Archives, and "deep-study" documentation by Mr. Tortella and sons. This sale represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire a watch that transcends timekeeping, offering a direct link to the wrists and lives of iconic 20th-century figures.