Highlights from the Auctions - Patek Philippe 1923 Officer at Sotheby's

Outstanding result at Sotheby's "Important Watches including Titanium Collection" auction held in New York on June the 10th for a very rare Patek Philippe Officer split-seconds chronograph dating back to 1923 (lot 175). The Patek Philippe 1923 Officer (Number 124824) more than doubled the estimate of US$ 800,000 - 1,200,000 and achieved the amount of US$ 2,965,000 (Swiss Francs 2,667,110 / € 2,185,579). After a bidding battle in the room, online and by phone, this exceptional timepiece was finally purchased by the Patek Philippe Museum.

Outstanding result at Sotheby's "Important Watches including Titanium Collection" auction held in New York on June the 10th for a very rare Patek Philippe Officer split-seconds chronograph dating back to 1923 (lot 175).

The Patek Philippe 1923 Officer (Number 124824)  more than doubled the estimate of US$ 800,000 - 1,200,000 and achieved the amount of US$ 2,965,000 (Swiss Francs 2,667,110 / € 2,185,579). After a bidding battle in the room, online and by phone, this exceptional timepiece was finally purchased by the Patek Philippe Museum.

The 1923 Officer is the world’s earliest known split-seconds chronograph born as a wristwatch by any maker. It is also the only model of its kind with a Grand Feu white enamel dial with black painted Breguet numerals. The unblemished dial also features an outer chapter ring calibrated for 1/5th seconds and two subsidiary dials: continuous seconds at 9 o'cock and a highly unusual 60-minute register at 3 o'clock. Actually, this is the only known Patek Philippe vintage chronograph wristwatch with a 60-minute counter.

The four-piece hinged Officer's style yellow gold case has a diameter of 33 mm. The chronograph function is controlled via the button on the band for start, stop and reset to zero while the split second hand function is controlled via the winding crown.

The remarkable movement - the smallest and flattest known split-seconds movement - was likely produced by the Victorin Piguet firm. It features a straight line lever escapement, 23 jewels, 8 adjustments, and bi-metallic compensation balance.

The watch was commissioned in 1903 by an important collector and it was finally sold and delivered on October 13, 1923.