MOVEMENT NO. 137’696, CASE NO. 248’101

The present watch is a rare examples of a trip minute repeater with a tandem wound two-train movement, one for the going and one for the repeating work.

Traditionally, the repeating mechanism of a watch is activated by pushing a slide in the case band, thus winding and releasing it at the same time. The train of a trip repeater is wound in conjunction with the going train and released at will through a button in the crown. The advantages of this system are the clean lines of the case, the enhanced dust resistance and most importantly permitting the owner the activation of the repeat train many times at will from only one winding.

The « Répétition à Déclenchement », also known as Trip or Tandem repeating mechanism, made its first appearance at Patek Philippe around 1884 and was patented in 1890 (Swiss Patent CHF18710 “Mécanisme de remontoir pour répétitions à poussoir”). It was one of Patek Philippe’s specialties as no other watch manufacturer offered this feature in their catalogues. Made either as “simple” repeaters or with the addition of other complications such as perpetual calendar or chronograph, they were mainly sold to the American market.

Most of the trip repeaters were manufactured between 1899 and 1912, production ceased afterwards due to the complexity and high cost of production.

For another two train trip minute repeating watch see: Patek Philippe Watches, Vol. 1, Patek Philippe Museum, 2013, p. 252.