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Patek Philippe Ref. 453
Coming to market next April at Auktionen Dr. Crott is this platinum & rose gold watch with a three-colour dial and T-shaped lugs.
It was manufactured in 1930 and sold on 22 May 1936.
The case measuring 30 mm diameter, it is very small by our modern standards and it might have been conceived as a woman's watch.
But what a beautiful dial and overall design, don't you think so?
As stated in the Extract from the Archives, the watch is powered by a manual-winding 10’’’ lever escapement movement.
credit: Auktionen Dr. Crott
In 2007, Sotheby's sold a 1937 stainless steel and rose gold example with Arabic numerals instead of Roman.
The bezel was engraved with “TAOS”, name of an Association of American Indian Affairs between 1935 and 1937.
credit: Sotheby’s
In 2008, Antiquorum sold another stainless steel and rose gold example featuring Roman numerals.
credit: Sotheby’s
In 2008, Antiquorum sold another stainless steel and rose gold example featuring Roman numerals.
The dial was double-signed with the signature of Buenos Aires retailer Walser Wald. The watch was sold in 1937.
credit: Antiquorum
The other two versions known to exist are, first, this 1928 stainless steel & rose gold example with a single-tone dial featuring Arabic numerals (which was sold by Sotheby's in 2019)...
credit: Sotheby’s & Patek Monger
... and this 1938 rose gold example with a single-tone dial featuring Breguet numerals and hands (which was sold by Wannenes in December 2025).
credit: Antiquorum
The other two versions known to exist are, first, this 1928 stainless steel & rose gold example with a single-tone dial featuring Arabic numerals (which was sold by Sotheby's in 2019)...
credit: Sotheby’s & Patek Monger
... and this 1938 rose gold example with a single-tone dial featuring Breguet numerals and hands (which was sold by Wannenes in December 2025).
The crown being modern looking and very different from the other examples it has likely been replaced.
credit: Wannenes
I know this is one of those niche posts that won't interest everyone. But I personally find these watches (the ones with a three-tone dial) wonderful.
credit: Wannenes
Thanks for reading.
Best, Emmanuel
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Patek Philippe Ref. 453
Coming to market next April at Auktionen Dr. Crott is this platinum & rose gold watch with a three-colour dial and T-shaped lugs . It was manufactured in 1930 and sold on 22 May 1936 . The case measuring 30 mm diameter, it is very small by our modern ...
The estimate on this is rather spectacular….
Anyway what impresses me the most is not just the case or the lugs, but rather the crown. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a bold and completely smooth crown on any watch. Ever since pocket watches, crowns have always been knurled. I wonder how the windi...
Same questions for me.
I imagine that the small movement has a small spring so there’s probably not a lot of winding to do… Still surprising though. Best, Emmanuel
I came here to comment the same!
I love the smooth crown... functionally it's probably not all that great but it sure looks great with the screws on the lugs.
Wow 🤩! Another
GREAT find Emmanuel ! Love the color scheme and dial design ! Small watch packed with a BIG punch 🤛
Really? Doesn’t Miami Beach call for something a little more shiny?
I’ve never been there, just the way I tend to see it in my mind! 😊 Best, Emmanuel
I think it's a fantastic design....
But I'll easily admit to loving the last variant the best - full rose gold with the plain silver dial with Breguet numerals and hands - perfection!!
I wasn’t expecting this preference,
but I understand it of course. “Breguet” love! 😊 Best, Emmanuel
In my eyes....
The design overall has a certain level of inherent complexity which, to me, works better when the finishing and details are monochrome/uniform....
