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Patek Philippe: Tourbillons and Observatory Watches info



Patek Philippe began work on its first tourbillon pocket watch in 1864, a 20 ligne movement with stem winding. In 1945, Andre Bornand, master watchmaker at Patek Philippe and professor of escapement design at the Geneva School of Horology, developed wristwatch movement 861,115. This 30mm movement was designed to compete in the Geneva Observatory competition. He was also responsible for the 1.018 gram bronze berylium tourbillon cage (including the whole escapement) in tonneau-shaped Calibre 34T, Patek's first tourbillon produced in series. 

Between 1943 and 1966, Patek submitted simple calibre wristwatches (cat D) to the Geneva Observatory 480 times, and tourbillon wristwatches 27 times. Individual movements may be submitted several times over the years, so it is difficult to determine the actual number of movements produced. For simple calibres, I estimate that Patek's production during these years is between 100-200, plus 6-10 Tourbillons.

Ref Type Calibre Start End Quant. Details Cost Est. Examples
570 Observatory 13''' 1939     Lepine ebauche    
Tourbillon 13.25''' 1949 1949 1 First Geneva Competition Tourbillon  by Andre Bornand. No. 861,115
Round, 1 minute tourbillon, 18 jewels, Guillaume Balance, freesprung Breguet overcoil, straight line lever escapement, precision timing by Zibach.
Huber 256
2458 Observatory 13''' 1952     Lepine ebauche, Guillaume balance, Breguet overcoil, 20J. JB Champion 861,121   Huber 253
Observatory 13''' 1953     Guillaume balance, Breguet overcoil, 18 jewels, precision regulation by Mathez. 861,126   Huber 255
2556 Observatory 13''' 1954 1954 1 Guillaume balance, Breguet overcoil. 21 jewels 861,137
43.77 points (56.34 is record for C - small pocket)
$200+ 2556
Huber 254
Patrizzi 215
3834 Tourbillon 34T 1956 1966
1980
5 Rectangular, 50 second tourbillon, 23J, Guillaume balance, Duofix shock-absorbers, freesprung Breguet overcoil, straight line lever escapement, 21,600 vph, 57 hour reserve. Subseconds mounted on extra wheel off last arbor of train, at 8 o'clock.
54.83 points awarded in 1958
861,490 & 866,500-503
Cased in 1980
Calibre 34T is a Zibach/Jaccard Calibre 34S (702mm2 Geneva Observatory Competition Cat D ebauche) with a Bornand tourbillon. See Huber I 81-83
$440 1989 3834
34T
Huber 256
Huber I pl 145
Patrizzi 214


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