The ref. 10 entered into production in 1917 and stayed in the line until 1932. As one of the earliest wristwatch models of the era, Patek Philippe showcased beautiful designs and layouts on its large dial. The Stern Frères dial typically featured applied gold Breguet numerals, exploded printed numerals, and most famously painted luminescent Arabic numerals such as on the timepiece offered here.
The case of the ref 10 or ‘model 10’ as it was called at the time, featured a large two-piece case that slightly curved for the contour of the wrist. The elegant design effortlessly presented the time boldly in pure ‘Roaring Twenties’ style.
The great majority of the refs. 10 were sent to the American and South American markets. However, a handful were sold to Canadian retailers such as this unique piece made for the famous retailer Birks, which is boldly shown on the dial, most notably and purposefully without the Patek Philippe signature. The Montreal based retailer, founded in 1879, was and remains a Patek Philippe retailer to this day.
This example recently returned from a service that was extraordinary to say the least. The estimate and receipt for the work, which will be supplied to new owner with the names removed, states that an astonishing 184 weeks was required to do the restoration at a total estimate of 33,355 USD. The watch was brought back to stunning new life during the four year wait to complete the restoration. The dial is now fully restored (safely without radium) and most notably the movement has been fully re-pivoted and overhauled. The result is a watch that preserves the legacy of the important relationship between Patek Philippe and Birks, as well as a bold statement of Patek’s extraordinary ability to restore every watch they have ever made. This is a work of art that truly spans a century.
