Patek Philippe Cal.23-300 18ct 1968 – Simply Wonderful – Flying Lugs

£6,750

100% Genuine & All Original

Fully Restored, Serviced & Guaranteed

Patek Philippe 18ct Dress Watch from 1968

Swiss Made Case 33mm, excluding the P.P. Signed Crown

Beautifully Restored White Dial with Gold Hands and Gilt Indices

Legendary, Ultra-High-Grade P.P. Cal.23-300, 18 J, Hand-Wound Movement

All in Absolute Top Grade & Simply Amazing Freshly Restored Condition

Complete with a High Quality Hardwood Presentation Box, as shown

High Quality Black Leather Strap with Gold Plated Buckle

VGWL Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee

VGWL 12 Months’ Warranty Included

Free UK Next Day Delivery

Overseas FedEx £45

Sold 1st Sept '18
VGW Reference: P605
Price £6,750

£6,750

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Highly Recommend
The service from Vintage Gold Watches was as per usual Fantastic, the watch arrived when expected and was extremely well packaged as usual. The watch was even nicer than the photos and went straight onto my wrist. Another fantastic acquisition for my growing collection. VGW is the first and so f
Andrew S via Feefo 29/1/2024
Verified Buyer
I have no hesitation in recommending.
From start to finish the service I have received has been excellent. Kirsty has kept me informed all the way and the level of the finished repair to a very old and worn vintage watch was exemplary.
Bryn H via Google Review 23/2/2024
Verified Buyer
Even better in real life
My watch has just arrived and it looks even better in real life! Just wanted to say a massive thank you to John and everyone there for the help you gave me in securing my dream watch. Cannot recommend your company highly enough. Thank you so much. Mike
Mike G via email 29/11/2023
Verified Buyer
New Vacheron
The watch arrived safely together with all its paperwork and looks lovely both on and off the wrist. It is very beautiful and understated. So a definite “yes” from all of us. Happy Christmas to you all Very best wishes Stephen
Stephen R via Email 6/12/2023
Verified Buyer
ABOUT THIS WATCH

Patek Philippe – Simply the Finest Watch, Money Can Buy.

Some significant moments in watchmaking since 1839 …In 1839 Antoine Patek began producing about 200 high-quality pocket watches per year.
In 1845 Patek & Co. Partnership founded in Geneva with Jean Adrien Philippe, technical director.
In 1846 Tiffany & Co. New York – Tiffany appoints Patek Philippe as its principal supplier of pocket watches.
In 1857 Universal Exposition in London – Queen Victoria and Prince Albert each bought a PP timepiece
In 1857 the company consolidates its reputation and shoots to fame around the world.
In 1867 the company produced the world’s first wristwatch.
In 1927 the company produced the world’s first perpetual calendar wristwatch.
In 1941 the company produced the world’s first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch.
In 1962 the company produced the world’s first automatic, perpetual calendar wristwatch.It is said that fewer than one million Patek Philippe watches have been made since the company began making watches, at the rate of 200 per year, in 1839. That’s fewer than some very high-end Swiss manufacturers (Rolex for example) currently produce in one year. The company now limits itself to producing less than 50,000 watches per year, even though it is estimated by watch market analysts that the company could sell ten times this figure. Patek production is so precise and detailed, it takes nine months to make even its most basic watches, and more than two years to produce some of its more complicated timepieces.

We of course associate Patek Philippe with the highest possible quality. But more particularly understated elegance, craftsmanship, heritage, technical accomplishment and perfection. Most of all, confidence.

Description

A beautifully restored 1968 Patek Philippe, model reference 2592, with wonderful flying lugs which present the watch beautifully on the wrist. This is a classic, simple and beautifully elegant watch, in immaculate condition. It is also one which is also equipped with one of Patek Philippe’s most successful and time honoured movements, the Patek Cal. 23-300. This movement was so successful it remained in continuous production from 1956 and 1975.

Please Note: This watch was produced in 1968 and so it will make the perfect 50th birthday or anniversary present!

The Dial

Although this watch is 50 years old, the dial design here is so clean, simple and minimalist it could easily be mistaken for a modern-day watch. White, with original gold ‘index’ hands and gilt indices, doubled at 12, and the Patek Philippe signature. And that’s it. This dial with no seconds hand is Patek’s signature Calatrava style dial. So simple, yet so pleasing. No more, no less, but so well balanced, beautifully proportioned and simply executed to perfection.  In harmony with its watch case, the dial speaks ever so gently, of “pure class, simple elegance, quality and confidence”.

This is the original dial which has been restored to the highest standards by our best dial restorers. which are considered to be the best in the UK.

The Watch Case

The 18ct yellow gold watch case measures 33mm in diameter, excluding the original Patek Philippe signed crown. However, a particularly rare feature of this watch are the beautiful flying lugs which extend the overall length of the case to 41mm and significantly add to the presence of the watch on the wrist. The watch is 8mm in depth, making this a slimline watch thanks to its movement which is only 3mm deep!

The case is totally immaculate with no scratches, dings or other signs of damage visible to the naked eye.

Inside the case-back, all is correct and as expected. Signed Patek Philippe & Co, Geneve and Swiss. Also Swiss Geneva 18ct Hallmarks, along with the Patek model reference 2592 and the case serial number 2621753.

The Movement 

The Patek Philippe Cal. 23-300 18 jewels hand-wound movement was a cornerstone of Patek Phillipe production for almost 20 years, being fitted to the classic Calatrava and similar time-only watches until 1975. It is unusual in that it is equipped with both an overcoil hairspring and a free-sprung Gyromax balance, both significant refinements and rarely found in the same movement. The movement has an antimagnetic ring, straight-line lever escapement, Gyromax balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and five positions. It also has Kif shock protection. This movement along with the Patek 27-AM 400, and the Vacheron K1001/2 are considered by many experts to occupy that most rarified atmosphere of; the very finest quality, hand wound time only movements ever produced.

As we have also come to expect from Patek Philippe, the movement is simply beautiful. A work of art fact! The Geneva wave finishing on the 5 bridge plates applied by hand over 60 years ago, even to this day look clean bright and new. The movement is, as expected, totally immaculate, indicating the watch has been properly cared for and regularly serviced.

The movement has been fully overhauled and serviced by a Master Watchmaker. This means dismantling the watch to all its component parts, careful inspection under high magnification, replacement where necessary with only genuine parts, then careful reassembly and adjustment before final calibration in 5 positions. This watch winds, sets and runs accurately and reliably. At final test and calibration, this watch was running within +4 seconds per day, averaged over 5 positions. Please bear in mind this is outstanding for any watch of this age. It has been tested and confirmed by our electronic time-grapher. We are therefore highly confident in offering 12 months’ warranty with this watch movement*. We will also be very happy to help maintain and service this watch in the future, at the recommended 4 year service interval.

The movement is all correctly signed: ‘Patek Philippe & Co’, ‘Geneve’ and ‘Swiss’, and with the Calibre number 23-300. Also the movement serial number 788,421, which dates this watch to 1968.

*Please note our 12 months’ warranty is only applicable if the full list price is paid.

The Strap and Buckle

The watch is fitted with a high quality Black Leather strap and gold plated buckle. Please note if a different colour or style of strap is preferred, please let us know, and we will do our best to oblige free of charge.

The Box and Papers

Although there is no original paperwork with this watch, the reference numbers, markings, signatures and hallmarks are all correct, dating the watch to 1968.

We provide our own comprehensive set of four documents with each watch we sell. This includes a separate detailed particulars document which fully describes the watch and includes photographs; a detailed purchase receipt which includes all vital information regarding the watch including details of our 12 months warranty, our Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee** and details of the 14 day approval period; our own Certificate of Authenticity and finally an Insurance Valuation for the replacement value of the watch which includes further photographs. **Our ‘Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee’ states: “If this watch proves to be anything less than totally authentic, or not as described, Vintage Gold Watches of London will offer you a full refund at any time”.

The watch comes complete with a high quality hardwood presentation box, as shown.

In Conclusion

A rare and highly sought after Patek Philippe dress watch, from horology’s most revered name,which is truly something of beauty, to wear, use, treasure and enjoy!

This watch will also make an excellent investment and family heirloom piece. Even though Patek prices have risen dramatically in the recent years, we feel fine examples such as this remain undervalued. As each year goes by and the world market for vintage watches expands, availability becomes more limited and so prices are surely destined to climb ever higher!

A word about our prices – We always try our hardest to acquire the very highest quality watches we can find, before restoring them to the highest possible standards. We then offer these at the fairest prices we can, taking into account our pre and post sales care and service. This approach inevitably means we will never be the cheapest, but nor will we be the most expensive. Indeed there are a number of well known stores in West London which are very successful, charging between two to three times the price you see here. We therefore consider our prices to be fair, given the quality of watches we have to offer.

We are happy to accept PayPal as this is the quickest method of payment. However, if you would wish to pay by bank transfer, we will be pleased to pass on a 3% transaction saving to you. Similarly, if you wish to pay by International SWIFT or International Bank Wire Transfer, we will provide you with our BIC / Swift number and our IBAN number.

Please note we welcome part exchanges and offers of watches for sale.

We will be happy to Service your watch, Repair your watch or Restore your watch, all at ‘sensible’ prices. Please see here.

If you have any questions, please call our landline 020 7727 7095 or mobile 07515 949 250 or if calling from overseas our landline number is +44 207 727 7095  or mobile +44 7515 949 250.

We are ready to help, always available and we await your call.

Finally, please enjoy some time spent viewing our other fine Vintage Gold Watches!

Thank you.

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