A fresh-to-market, unique and exceptional, first-series Tasti Tondi, manual chronograph wristwatch in steel, with pink tropical dial and Gay Freres bracelet, retailed by Hausmann & Co, with Extract from the Archives, reference 1463.
A fresh-to-market, unique and exceptional, first-series Tasti Tondi, manual chronograph wristwatch in steel, with pink tropical dial and Gay Freres bracelet, retailed by Hausmann & Co, with Extract from the Archives, reference 1463. This specific watch is published in John Goldberger's book "Patek Philippe Steel Watches" at pages 276 & 277. Few manufactures have shaped wristwatch design as profoundly as Patek Philippe, from the elegance of the reference 96 to landmark complications like the references 1518 and 2499. Among these stands the reference 1463, introduced in 1940, it represented a chronograph that anticipated the modern “sporty yet elegant” watch. Featuring a water-resistant Borgel case, robust pushers, and protective construction, it was designed for a changing lifestyle that embraced travel and activity. While most were produced in yellow gold, stainless steel examples were made in extremely limited numbers, with scholarly research suggesting that only 180 cases were made in total. Today, these variants are among the most coveted vintage chronographs in existence. Monaco Legend Group is proud to offer the present; fresh-to-market, first series, and unique stainless steel Patek Philippe reference 1463. Manufactured in 1942, this timepiece embodies the reference at its most elusive. Belonging to the "first series" production (1940-1945), and exceptionally preserved, the present reference 1463 features larger pushers, straighter and flatter lugs, a thicker no-step bezel and a smaller domed crown. Fitted with a Gay Frères beads-of-rice bracelet, it perfectly captures the utilitarian yet refined spirit of the model. The dial, however, is unquestionably the showstopper of this example. Nothing short of breath-taking, it has matured and tropicalised over decades with exceptional appeal. Most likely a special order during the second world war from a wealthy and tasteful collector, the exclusive pink dial now exhudes a warm terracotta-like hue. Adding an even higher layer of significance, the watch is further signed by the famed Roman retailer Hausmann and Co, rendering the present example unique in its configuration. Unique, Fresh-to-market, and preserved to an exceptional standard, this example is not merely rare, it is emblematic of a moment when Patek Philippe quietly redefined what a chronograph wristwatch could be, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate with the most discerning connoisseurs today. The present watch is further illustrated on John Golberger "Patek Philippe Steel Watches" book at page(s) 276 & 277.
