PATEK PHILIPPE STEEL SECTOR DIAL REF. 130A

This watch is a grail of grails and a museum quality piece that deserves to be the capstone of an important collection: The Patek Philippe Steel Sector ref. 130A. This example was made in 1938 and is one of 15 known examples with this dial configuration made during a short period of time in the late 1930s. It features a hand-engraved and enamel two-tone sector dial that has aged beautifully over time. Unlike other examples that have been on the market in recent years, the dial of this watch is unrestored and has aged to perfection for its 85 years of existence. This is the original gentlemen’s sports watch from a time when sports meant race car driving and horse racing. It was meant to time success, and the push of a chronograph button was the final word between winning and losing. For the man or woman that wants to own a time machine of the highest order, this is the dream watch. A complicated steel wristwatch from the beginning of the golden age of vintage wristwatch design.

There were approximately 280 examples of the stainless steel ref. 130 made and there are less than 15 known with this dial configuration known as the type ’38’. It is one of the rarest chronographs ever made by Patek Philippe. The dial is a masterpiece of the hand-engraving technique of the late 1930s with its original hard enamel proving to survive the test of time. The colors of the varnish have aged to perfection giving the dial a three-tone aesthetic. The case was made by Georges Crosier for Patek Philippe and finished to perfection with a brush finish on the case middle, and the bezel, case back and lugs with a high polish finish. The movement was made with a Valjoux ebauche, rhodiumed-brass with 23 jewels and a mono-metallic amagnetic balance.

This ref. 130A sector first resurfaced at auction in 2006 and soon found itself in an important American collection before being acquired by Collectability. This watch has survived in its original condition that can be easily seen once compared to other examples that have been fully restored. The patina is elegant and the dial is aged to a beauty rarely seen on vintage dials with no signs of restoration. Furthermore, the hand set is also original. The beauty and rarity of this watch is that the case, dial and movement have all aged concurrently and consistently – what collectors like to call an ‘honest watch’. For the patient and knowledgeable collector looking for a best-in-class example of a ref. 130 in steel, you’re wait is now over.