Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Patek Philippe wristwatch, ref. 130, Chronograph Minute Counter, circa 1942
- Maker / attribution
- Patek Philippe (brand / maker)
- Date
- c. 1942
- Historical period
- Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- stainless steel
- Auction house
- Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
- Lot
- Lot 362-14
- Credit line
- Auction lot record: LOT 14, Monaco,July 25, 2023
- Catalogue title (original)
- PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 130, CHRONOGRAPH, MINUTE COUNTER, SILVER DIAL WITH YELLOW GOLD INDEXES; STAINLESS STEEL (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva (lot Lot 362-14), this is a wristwatch by Patek Philippe, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1942. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: stainless steel. The record is illustrated with 2 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Antiquorum catalogue description
Stainless steel, manual-winding, “tonneau”-shaped, gentleman’s wristwatch, with snap-on case-back, concave bezel, yellow gold crown, silver colour dial with applied suspended Roman yellow gold numerals, radial indexes, subsidiary seconds at 9 and two horological complications:· 1/5 second chronograph (activated by the two rectangular-shaped push-pieces located on the case-band) with tachometric scale graduated for 1 000 metres· Half-instantaneous 30-minute counter (subsidiary dial at 3 o’clock)Movement 13-130, cut bimetallic compensated balance with gold poising screws and blued steel hairspring with terminal curve, index regulator with swan-neck spring and micrometric screw, eight adjustments, “Poinçon de Genève” (Geneva Quality Hallmark or Geneva seal).
Lot specifications (Antiquorum)
Reference: 130; Movement No.: 862 656; Case No.: 505 799 / 31; Material: stainless steel; Bracelet: black leather strap; Buckle: stainless steel buckle; Caliber: 13-130, eight adjustments; Dimensions: 41.4 x 32.9 mm.; Signature: Dial, case and movement; Accessories: Extract from the Archives, Patek Philippe repair invoice (dated November 19, 2010)
Inscriptions & marks
Dial, case and movement
Historical context
Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.
The wristwatch overtook the pocket watch. Military use in the First World War, aviation, water-resistant cases (1926), automatic winding (1923–31), rectangular Art Deco designs and early chronographs and calendars defined the period.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution
Atlas type guide
Chronographs and split-seconds watches
A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.
Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.
What to look for
- Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
- Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
- Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
- Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).
Dating clues
- Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
- Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
- Automatic chronographs: from 1969.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph
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