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Patek Philippe: Split Second Chronographs info



Two recently discovered examples from 1922 and 1923, sold for $1.9M and $1.75M, show that Patek Philippe began to build Split Second Chronograph wristwatches earlier than the previously believed 1927. This means that Patek Philippe was the first manufacturer to produce such a watch. The added complication of the rattrapante function, which basically allows the wearer to time two simultaneous events, increased production costs by 40%-50% versus a simple chronograph. Patek has consistently produced split second chronographs to this day, however since the 1971 conclusion of the 1436, they are available only with a perpetual calendar as well. In 1998 Patek introduced Ref. 5070, a simple chronograph modeled after Ref. 2512 below. Perhaps a split second version is in the works. 
Ref Type Calibre Start End Quant. Details Cost Est. Examples
na Split-seconds chronograph 12''' 1922 1923 2+ Pink and Yellow gold, enamel dials, functionally as below. Earliest split second chrono ww ever.
235326
$1.78M 99
$1.9M
1922
1923
Antiq 11/99 Gen 448
na Split-seconds chronograph 13''' 1927 1930   One square pusher for rattrapante, start, stop & return in crown. Two registers, either horizontal or vertical. Likely all Victorin Piguet ebauches. Some with slide to lock out chrono.   Vertical Tonneau
Huber 271
na Split-seconds chronograph 13''' 1937     Victorin Piguet ebauche. Start-stop, reset in crown, square button split above, slide lock 198369 21J (rattapante castle gear near edge)   Huber 273
130 Split-seconds chronograph 13'''-130 1930     Two square pushers, split in crown or crown as button itself. 25J (rattapante castle gear near center)
860841
198405
  130 Cartier
Huber 272
Negretti 28-29
1436 Split-seconds chronograph 13'''-130 1938 1971   Two square pushers, with the split/catch function in crown or crown as a button itself.

Very few rose gold, three stainless known.

I use 13'''-130 to differentiate the two types of calibres.

Y:$120K
S:$400K
1436
1436 movt
Huber 273-274
Negretti 52-53, 60-61, 92-93, 98-99
Patrizzi 235, 236, 238, 239
Antiq 4/00 Gen 406
Antiq 6/98 NYC 491
2512 Split-seconds chronograph 13'''-130 1952     Two square pushers plus crown, large case, black dial.
867857
Y:$636K 96 2512
Huber 274
1563 Split-seconds chronograph 13'''-130 1943 1947 3 Two round pushers plus crown, waterproof, all yellow gold.
867196 tach
862420 puls
863791 Duke E
$200K-$673 Dukes 1563
Negretti 42-43, 68-69 
Antiq 6/98 NYC 135
na Split-seconds chronograph 13'''-130     Two round pushers plus crown, special case (like 5004) 8 posn 25J BiM Bal 862532   Patrizzi 240


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