A HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT PATEK PHILIPPE YELLOW GOLD OWL BROOCH

It is with great pleasure for Collectability to present this rare and unique Patek Philippe owl brooch from the late 1950s. We have seen brooch’s before from Patek made in the mid-20th century, but it is often quite difficult to assess with 100% certainty that these jewelry pieces were originally sold by Patek Philippe (since they were never archived or individually numbered). However, this newly discovered owl brooch is fresh to the market and comes directly from the family of Wacky Arnolt.
The design of the brooch is stunning in its execution and simplicity. Made from 18k yellow gold, the jeweler designed the owl with the body and head creatively crafted in gold, with the emerald eyes surrounded by diamonds. It is whimsical and mysterious in its execution. During annual buying trips to Europe, Wacky amassed an impressive collection of Patek Philippe watches and this brooch for his wife, an impulse purchase during a trip to the Patek Philippe boutique in the 1950s.
Stanley H. “Wacky” Arnolt was a Mid-western entrepreneur who famously imported cars into the US starting in the 1950s after making his fortune during the 1940s making outboard motors for the US war effort during WW2. Known by his nickname ‘Wacky’, Arnolt is one of the most important American Patek Philippe collectors that you may never have heard of. After his death in 1963, his wife Ghean Arnolt became president and executive officer of the family corporation. Today, he is remembered and celebrated for his coveted sports cars, the Arnolt-MG, the Arnolt-Aston, Arnolt-Bentley, and most famously the Arnolt-Bristol. For further reading on Wacky Arnolt, please see this article and this.