Reference Points: The Patek Philippe Split-Seconds Wristwatch
This article delves into the history and significance of Patek Philippe's split-seconds wristwatches, highlighting their often overlooked status despite their importance. It examines the foundational role of Victorin Piguet as a key supplier for these complex movements, tracing the evolution from early pocket watches to the first split-seconds chronographs on the wrist.
- Patek Philippe's first chronograph wristwatch was a split-seconds model made in 1923.
- The first Patek Philippe split-seconds wristwatch used a 12''' extra-flat Victorin Piguet base movement.
- The 1923 split-seconds wristwatch movement was made in 1903 but cased and sold 20 years later.
- The 1923 split-seconds wristwatch measured 33mm by 11.1mm.
- The first simple chronograph wristwatch by Patek Philippe, using a 13''' Victorin Piguet ébauche, was made in 1924.
The article argues that Patek Philippe split-seconds wristwatches are among the most overlooked and underappreciated in the brand's catalog, with entry points in the low six figures.
The first Patek Philippe chronograph wristwatch, made in 1923, was a split-seconds model and the first of its kind by any manufacturer.
The 1923 split-seconds wristwatch featured a Victorin Piguet ébauche, with the movement originally made in 1903 but not cased and sold until 1923.
The 1924 Patek Philippe chronograph wristwatch, the brand's first simple chronograph, also utilized a Victorin Piguet ébauche.
Victorin Piguet was a crucial supplier for Patek Philippe, particularly for complex movements like those used in split-seconds chronographs.
The split-seconds mechanism involves two superimposed chronograph hands to time two intervals simultaneously, a complex feat requiring microscopic precision.
The history of Patek Philippe's split-seconds watches is intertwined with their pocket watch production and their long-standing relationship with the supplier Victorin Piguet.