1940 Patek Philippe 18ct Gold Hooded Lugs Cal. 9"90 1483
Ref: 1438
Specification
Lugs : 18mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : 18ct Yellow Gold
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as "Watch only" and, therefore, comes with no original Patek Philippe box or paperwork. It is paired with an 18mm leather strap and pin buckle. The watch is from Circa 1940 and is sold in worn vintage condition; wear and age can be seen throughout the watch, but overall, this is fantastic with an early refinished dial. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1I0DWOUJAmKoFR5HXj7mXNsO-F6ep0D7f?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 2:15 - https://youtu.be/VIM-XjJsjko
The Watch
Here, we have a beautifully executed and rare 1940 Patek Philippe 18ct Gold Cal. 9"90 1483 with a rectangular 18ct yellow gold case that flows seamlessly towards the decorative hooded drilled lugs for a comfortable fit. The slender profile leads to a lug-to-lug length of 33.5mm and a case thickness of just 7mm. A coin-edged crown sits on the right side. The slim, smooth bezel holds a box-shaped crystal above a striking white dial; large applied gold Roman numerals and pip indices radiate around the edge, marking the hours; elegant 18ct yellow gold stick hands sit majestically in the centre; at 6 o’clock, a recessed sub-seconds, at 12 o’clock, Patek Philippe Co. Geneve motif completes this sophisticated beautifully balanced dress watch. On the reverse, an 18ct yellow gold snap-off case back and inside a manually wound Patek Cal. 9"90, 18 jewels movement. It comes paired with an 18mm leather strap and pin buckle.
Personal Note
There will forever be something undeniably alluring about a vintage Patek Philippe, especially when the case isn't your traditional round shape and something more unique like this hooded lugged rectangular 18ct gold case, a true work of art on the wrist. This incredible reference 1438 is powered by the manually wound Patek calibre 9"90, a beautifully finished shaped movement and executed to the high standards we expect from Patek Philippe in the 1940s. It is amazing to know that all that beauty is hidden behind a solid case back and reserved for the watchmakers, that is a testament to craft that only few can achieve. I would not hesitate to add this beautiful example to your collection today!
The Brand
Patek, Czapek & Cie was founded by Antoine Norbert de Patek and François Czapek in 1839. The company name became Patek, Philippe & Cie –Fabricants à Genève in 1851. They created the first Swiss wristwatch, made for Countess Koscowicz of Hungary, In 1868. They produced the first complicated ladies’ wristwatch with a five-minute repeater, No. 174 603, in 1916. In 1923, they sold the first split-second chronograph wristwatch, No. 124 824. In 1932, we saw the launch of the first Calatrava: Ref. 96. The business began with the regular production of perpetual calendar wristwatches in 1941. They won a record number of first prizes for precision in the Geneva Observatory competition in 1944. Later, in 1962, a tourbillon movement achieved the still unbeaten world timekeeping precision record for a mechanical watch at the Geneva Observatory. In 1976, we saw the launch of the first Nautilus sports watches Ref. 3700/1 in steel. To celebrate their anniversary, they launched the Calibre 89 to mark 150 years of Patek Philippe. It has an incredible 33 complications, which is the most ever in a portable timepiece. They moved into a new production facility in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, in 1996. Continuing their mastery of Horology, they launched the most complicated Patek Philippe wristwatch with a double face: the Sky Moon Tourbillon, Ref. 5002, in 2001. The Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva opened in the same year. Renovation of the beautiful rue du Rhône salons in Geneva was completed in 2006. It celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2014.