219 presents a captivating exploration of Patek Philippe's movement number 866500, housed in a seemingly simple wristwatch that conceals a highly decorated, Observatory competition-winning tourbillon movement. This article delves into the historical significance and technical marvel of this rare timepiece, highlighting its 'wolf in sheep's clothing' nature and its place in horological history.
Not A, but THE wristwatch. The Beyer Museum holds as one of their treasures a timepiece that I regard as the nearest thing possible to the perfect watch. The simplest of dials: nothing but the time in hours, minutes, and seconds. The number: 866500: the movement number printed on the dial. It can only be Patek. One of the most sublime creations by Patek where the dial hides one of the most stunning Observatory competition winning movements created. There is no ‘Observatoire Bulletin’ on the dial to give it away. It is the definition of a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’. It is as if someone managed to cram a Formula One engine in a VW Golf and then they get away with burning off any other car on the road!
In the mid 1950’s, Andre Bornand was the Professor of Escapement Design at Geneva and also working with Patek Phillipe. The 3834T was the end of a series of movements that won the Observatory Competition in 1958 for its class. The movements were then cased later on and apparently sold in 1989 for $440 (I cry a lot these days). In detail, the 34T is a rectangular, 50 second tourbillon, Guillaume balance, duofix shock-absorbers, freesprung Breguet overcoil, straight line lever escapement, 21,600 vph, 57 hour reserve. The off-centre second hand is mounted on extra wheel off last arbor of the train, at 8 o'clock.
There are five known examples (truly a ‘limited edition’) carrying movement numbers 861,490 and 866,500 to 866,503. The movements were cased in 1980. The calibre 34T is a Zibach/Jaccard Calibre 34S (702mm2 Geneva Observatory Competition Cat D ebauche) with a Bornand tourbillon. The movement was awarded 54.83 points in the Geneva Observatory Competition in 1958.
If you look at the case from the side, and when taken apart, the movement really was ‘cased’ and then put on sale! The case back has been machined exactly to house the movement, and once the movement is placed in the watch back, it is simply fitted into the front casing of the watch. The case really is that simple.
A side view will illustrate a little better:
The movement is sublime. All attention is drawn to the over-sized balance wheel and escapement design. I am sure that was how it was intended to be.
The Guilliame balance can just be seen along with the individual screws that would have been loosened or tightened depending on the ‘fine tuning’ required.
The finishing on the movement is stunning and if truth be told, I was sorry to see that so much of it was hidden using plates. Note the polish and the anglage of the corners on the plates, the sheen of the Geneva stripes, and even down to the polished screws on the balance wheel. Cased in a time when there were almost no exhibition backs to watches. But just knowing that the watch on your wrist housed such a movement – what a buzz! If only it was mine...
Andrew H
This message has been edited by Dje on 2009-03-02 10:27:30 
