Antiquorum Geneva to auction the world's most complicated watch:
the unique white gold Calibre 89 by Patek Philippe
Preview this horological masterpiece, along with auction highlights from Antiquorum's 30th anniversary sale, on April 3-4 in New York
Lot 301 From the Collection of a Royal Family
Estimate available upon request
An Enumeration of its 33 Complications.
The timekeeping function
The hours, minutes and seconds of mean time (-)
The hours, minutes and seconds of sidereal time (3)
The time in a second time zone (1)
The time of sunset and sunrise (2)
The equation of time (1)
The tourbillon regulator (1)
The calendar function
The perpetual calendar (1)
The century leap year correction (1)
The day of the month (1)
The century, decade and year (1)
The days of the week (1)
The months (1)
The four-year cycle (1)
The sun hand (season, equinox, solstice, zodiac) (1)
The star chart (1)
The age and phases of the moon (1)
The date of Easter (1)
The chronograph function
The chronograph (1)
Split seconds (1)
The 30-minute recorder (1)
The 12-hour recorder (1)
The Westminster chime
The "Grande sonnerie" with carillon on 4 gongs (1)
The "Petite sonnerie" with carillon (1)
The minute-repeater (1)
The alarm on 1 gong (1)
Other functions for the operation of the watch
The going train up/down indication (1)
The striking train up/down indication (1)
The striking train stop work (1)
The twin barrel differential winding (1)
The three-way setting position indicator (1)
The winding-crown position indicator (1)
Non-horological function
The thermometer (-)
(-) Not considered to be complications
The hours, minutes and seconds of mean time
Non-horological function
Patek Philippe's Calibre 89 is an open-faced astronomical clockwatch with two main dials. It was made in four unique examples; one each in yellow, pink, and white gold, and one in platinum. The Calibre 89 has 33 complications which fall into five main categories: timekeeping, the calendar, the chronograph, the chime and the operational functions. The Calibre 89 was built by a team of watchmakers at Patek Philippe & Cie, Geneva, to mark the company's 150th anniversary. Preliminary calculations and designs were started in 1980, a working prototype was ready in July of 1988, and the watch was finally completed in April of 1989. From start to finish it took 9 years to make.
The standard of manufacture is commensurate with the requirements of the Geneva Seal. This hallmark is awarded to Geneva-made watches that meet the standards of manufacture described in the law of the Republic and Canton of Geneva of November 6, 1886, amended on October 23, 1959, governing the inspection of watches.
The first Calibre 89, in yellow gold, was sold as lot 301, by Antiquorum in its April 9, 1989 sale, "The Art of Patek Philippe" (a sale which commemorated the 150th anniversary of Patek Philippe). That first Calibre 89 and the other three pieces were purchased by a single Royal family. Recently the collection has been dispersed: the yellow gold watch was bought by an important Japanese watch and automobile collector, and is now in his private museum; the pink gold watch was bought by an important Italian collector; the platinum watch was bought by a Middle-Eastern Royal family, to be placed in their private museum; the white gold watch, the present lot, is therefore the last piece to be offered for sale.
To celebrate Antiquorum's 30th anniversary, this unique white gold Calibre 89 will be auctioned as lot 301, by Antiquorum, on April 24-25 at the Hotel Noga Hilton in Geneva.
Previews of the auction's highlights will take place in:
New York: April 3-4,
Tourneau TimeMachine, 12 East 57th Street at Madison Avenue. Tokyo: April 15 - 17,
Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch, 41th floor, Izumi-Garden Tower, Roppongi Icho-me.
The entire collection can be viewed:
Geneva: from April 21,
Hotel Noga Hilton, Quai du Mont-Blanc
