Patek Philippe

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Somazzi - Patek Philippe in Lugano, Switzerland

In showcase 64 of the Patek Philippe Museum, entitled "The Second at the Center", sits this magnificent watch with a two-tone sector dial signed “Somazzi Lugano”.



The movement was manufactured in 1919 and the case in 1934.









As shown by these pages from the two museum catalogues I have, this is a reference 96 SC (for Second at the Centre).



And the case is made of a “non-corroding steel alloy marketed as ‘Staybrite’”.



Other ref. 96 from the same period with the exact same sector dial can be found, like the following one, which dates from 1935.





Or this one, also from 1935, with a dial signed with the name of the Milanese retailer Hausmann & Co.


credit: onbehalf

This iconic two-tone sector dial was obviously the source of inspiration of the modern ref. 5296G-001:




credit: @pauldavidmaudsley


I could of course end the post here. But I prefer to delve a little deeper by researching who Somazzi is and whether there are other pieces whose dial is also signed “Somazzi Lugano” or other important collaboration pieces.

Here are other examples with only “Somazzi”.

A ref. 130 from 1947:




credit: Sotheby's


A ref. 96 from 1933:


credit: onbehalf


A ref. 1516 from 1942:


credit: Christie's


A ref. 570 with unknown date:




credit: Bulang & Sons


And a ref. 3548/1J from 1972:


credit: 41 Watch