PATEK PHILIPPE YELLOW GOLD LADIES WRISTWATCH

The original owner of this fresh-to-market is one of the unsung heroines of Patek Philippe history. This elegant little watch was purchased in September of 1944 by one of Patek Philippe’s movement regulators in Switzerland. As one of the final steps in the production of watches, regulators adjusted the escapements to perfection. Many of these now forgotten regulators during this era were women called régleuse and were instrumental in the final steps of adjustment and quality control.  It is very important to remember that historically many of the highly skilled workers that made Patek Philippe watches were women… a fact that remains true to this day. The regleuse that originally owned this watch was born in 1924 and started studying watchmaking in 1940 at the age of 16. After three years of training at the Geneva Watchmaking School, she started working for Patek Philippe in the production department. Soon after she started working for Patek Philippe, she purchased this watch in 1944. Some of her tools can still be seen on display in the Patek Philippe Museum today.

The watch itself is as stunning as one would expect with such fascinating provenance. It is truly a watchmaker’s watch – the pure beauty is within. The 8 lignes rectangular caliber is an opus to 1920s watchmaking. Typically used for pendants and drivers watches, this 8 lignes caliber was made in different quality levels. The presently offered watch, no surprise, is of the highest quality with 18 jewels and adjusted to 5 positions. Note the bi-metallic balance with blued hairspring – a balance and hairspring that was likely adjusted by the original owner of this watch. The case of this watch was made by Francis Baumgartner (key mark 2) and the dial by Stern Frères.

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