Created in 1989, the year of Patek Philippe’s 150th anniversary, the present watch is believed to be the only ref. 947-1J known to exist to date, consigned for this auction by only its second owner in almost thirty years. This magnificent and superbly well-preserved timepiece represents the fine art of haute horlogerie, immediately distinguishing itself by its large and substantial 56mm. diameter case and the understated beauty of its white enamel dial with Breguet numerals.

Most significantly however, it is fitted with one of the most sophisticated precision chronometer movements ever made by the company, a spring detent escapement. To further enhance its rarity, a minute repeating mechanism was added, an extremely scarce feature in any chronometer and a combination that exists as sole complications in perhaps only three Patek Philippe watches known publically to date, including the present watch. The other two, bearing reference 923 however both slightly different from each other, were made in 1985 and sold in 1989.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Patek Philippe completed and cased a small number of movements with detent escapements (movement numbers 866’xxx) including the present watch. Two further Patek Philippe detent chronometer watches with minute repeating are known with other additional complications.

In 1844 Antoine Patek began experimenting with detent escapements, producing pocket chronometers in exceedingly small numbers. One of them, no. 3218, was bought by Prince Albert at the 1851 Great Exhibition in London. These pocket detent chronometers were Patek Philippe's most precise watches and also among the most expensive to produce due to the extreme skill required to make them. It is believed that less than 60 such chronometers were ever made, rendering them in fact rarer than the company’s tourbillon watches.

The detent was considered the most accurate escapement for balance wheel timepieces, its purpose is to allow the balance wheel to swing undisturbed during most of its cycle, except the brief impulse period, which is only given once per cycle (every other swing). Another advantage of the escapement is that it does not need oiling. Although invented by Pierre Le Roy in 1748, the first effective detent escapement was invented by John Arnold about 1775. This escapement (originally with pivoted detent) was modified by Thomas Earnshaw in 1780 and after further modifications it appeared in its final form around 1800. This design was used until mechanical chronometers became obsolete in the 1970s.

This impressive and technically superior, possibly unique repeating chronometer affords the collector and lover of fine watchmaking the opportunity to acquire a significant Patek Philippe rarity of outstanding quality.

Other examples of Patek Philippe's pocket chronometer watches with spring detent escapement and helical hair spring are illustrated and described in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches - Volume II, pp. 18-20.


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