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Cushion-shaped Patek Philippe single button chronographs
This wonderful cushion-shaped Patek Philippe single button (monopusher) chronograph will be auctioned on April 24, 2026, at Sotheby's “Important Watches” auction in Hong Kong.
I therefore decided to take this opportunity to compile a list of all the cushion-shaped Patek Philippe single button chronographs I could find.
Here are the results of my research.
The seven chronographs are presented by movement number, in ascending order.
A/ MOVEMENT NO. 197'918 (1927)
This yellow gold example features vertical registers, painted Breguet numerals and pear hands.
This yellow gold example features vertical registers, painted Breguet numerals and pear hands.
The signature is arranged around the canon pinion: on the left “Patek Philippe”, on the right “& Co Geneva”.
It is only described on p. 258 of the book by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, Patek Philippe Genève Wristwatches (Second edition, 1998)
B/ MOVEMENT NO. 197'919, CASE NO. 289'861
This example also features a yellow gold case and vertical registers, but has needle hands and applied pencil indexes.
B/ MOVEMENT NO. 197'919, CASE NO. 289'861
This example also features a yellow gold case and vertical registers, but has needle hands and applied pencil indexes.
It was made in 1924 and subsequently sold by Tiffany & Co. on June 2nd, 1926.
It was last seen on the market in 1997 at Sotheby's in New York and it will be sold next April 24th.
Patek Philippe Complicated Wristwatches by Giampiero Negretti and Paolo De Vecchi, pages 24 and 25
credit: Sotheby’s
C/ MOVEMENT NO. 198'143 (1929)
Like example A, this timepiece features a yellow gold case, vertical registers, painted Breguet numerals and pear hands.
However, the signature is arranged around the canon pinion in a different way than in example A: on the left “Patek Philippe & Co”, on the right “Geneva Switzerland”.
Patek Philippe Complicated Wristwatches by Giampiero Negretti and Paolo De Vecchi, pages 24 and 25
credit: Sotheby’s
C/ MOVEMENT NO. 198'143 (1929)
Like example A, this timepiece features a yellow gold case, vertical registers, painted Breguet numerals and pear hands.
However, the signature is arranged around the canon pinion in a different way than in example A: on the left “Patek Philippe & Co”, on the right “Geneva Switzerland”.
It now belongs to the Patek Philippe Museum, Inv. P-881.
The photos below are from p. 260 of the book by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, Patek Philippe Genève Wristwatches (Second edition, 1998)
D/ MOVEMENT NO. 198'207, CASE NO. 608'751
This white gold example features vertical registers, pear hands and applied Breguet numerals.
The photos below are from p. 260 of the book by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, Patek Philippe Genève Wristwatches (Second edition, 1998)
D/ MOVEMENT NO. 198'207, CASE NO. 608'751
This white gold example features vertical registers, pear hands and applied Breguet numerals.
It was manufactured in 1928.
And it was sold by Antiquorum in 1995 and by Christie's in 2011.
credit: Christie’s & Antiquorum
E/ MOVEMENT NO. 198'237, CASE NO. 607'929
This yellow gold example from 1929 features horizontal registers, pear hands, and Dauphine numerals.
And it was sold by Antiquorum in 1995 and by Christie's in 2011.
credit: Christie’s & Antiquorum
E/ MOVEMENT NO. 198'237, CASE NO. 607'929
This yellow gold example from 1929 features horizontal registers, pear hands, and Dauphine numerals.
It was sold by Antiquorum in 1994 and is now on display at the Patek Philippe Museum, Inv. P-992.
It is described on p. 261 of the book by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, Patek Philippe Genève Wristwatches (Second edition, 1998)
credit: rolandc (here on WPS) & Antiquorum
In the Catalog of the Patek Philippe Museum with example C:
F/ MOVEMENT NO. 198'241 (1937)
G/ MOVEMENT NO. 860'027, CASE NO. 615'413
Manufactured in 1935, this yellow gold & platinum example features leaf hands, applied 6 & 12, and a sector-style dial with small horizontal registers and a tachymeter scale.
The watch is featured in its original case in Patek Philippe Complicated Wristwatches by Giampiero Negretti and Paolo De Vecchi, p. 30 (photos kindly provided by fellow member golden hands)
credit: rolandc (here on WPS) & Antiquorum
In the Catalog of the Patek Philippe Museum with example C:
F/ MOVEMENT NO. 198'241 (1937)
This yellow gold example features pear hands, painted Breguet numerals, small horizontal registers and a tachymeter scale with “CALCULÉ POUR 1 KM DE DISTANCE ” (CALCULATED FOR 1 KM DISTANCE) at 6 o'clock.
The long signature - “Patek Philippe & Co / Genève” - is placed at 12 o'clock.
It is only described on p. 258 of the book by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, Patek Philippe Genève Wristwatches (Second edition, 1998)
G/ MOVEMENT NO. 860'027, CASE NO. 615'413
Manufactured in 1935, this yellow gold & platinum example features leaf hands, applied 6 & 12, and a sector-style dial with small horizontal registers and a tachymeter scale.
The watch is featured in its original case in Patek Philippe Complicated Wristwatches by Giampiero Negretti and Paolo De Vecchi, p. 30 (photos kindly provided by fellow member golden hands)
The watch was later set in a new case no. 613'412.
It was sold in this recased condition by Antiquorum in 1990 and by Christie's in 2011.
credit: Christie’s & Antiquorum
Thanks for reading.
Best, Emmanuel
Cushion-shaped Patek Philippe single button chronographs
This wonderful cushion-shaped Patek Philippe single button (monopusher) chronograph will be auctioned on April 24 , 2026 , at Sotheby's “Important Watches” auction in Hong Kong . I therefore decided to take this opportunity to compile a list of all the cu...
Hi Emmanuel, thanks for another WOW post of
shaped watches ! To me this shape is an acquired taste. Would love to see in W&W some new shaped watches !
I love this post.
These are absolutely gorgeous watches. I love this case shape but want to draw your attention to the fact that the dial is actually round and the movement is round. This is a good example to show all the cubitus haters - Patek historically used round move...
G --has been recased in its life as mvt-860027 was cased in 615413 and the dial refreshed
notice that the bezel in the antiquorum catalogue has a rough finish and not a smooth one as in these photo and christies ...
Great! I will add this information and your photos if you allow me.
May I ask what book it is? Thank you! Best, Emmanuel
Thanks for yet another great post.
There is something special about the cushion shaped cases imho . I find them very elegant and looking at your post and pictures these are the perfect examples imho
Yes, true wonderful pieces, these cushion monopuhser chronographs.
Thanks for the kind words. Best, Emmanuel
Somehow my response didn’t post first time around 🤷🏻♂️
I am a huge fan of cushion shaped watches and this one is no exception. Yet at the same time I feel that the cushion case here was an afterthought, which one sees quite clearly from the dial design - no attempt was made to mask the round movement or use t...
For whatever reason, I'm personally not bothered at all
by the round movement and round design (with “corners”) of the dial. In fact I like this design, which makes the watch look like an augmented circle. Patek has used the total real estate of the cushion shaped dial on other references like the 5940, but I'...