The Graves

Circa 1925, a large, silver, open face, extra quality chronometer watch with 36-hour power reserve indication, winner of the third prize at the Geneva Observatory Timing Contest 1925-1926. Engraved inside the case «Awarded Third Prize, Geneva Astronomical Observatory Timing Contest 1925-1926», movement numbered twice, Extra quality, stamped twice with the Seal of Geneva. Especially made for Henry Graves. According to the records of the Geneva Observatory, the present watch competed in the 1925/6 timing contest, obtaining 759 points out of a possible 1000 and winning a third prize in Category B. The Extract form the Archives further confirms that the piece obtained a Geneva Observatory rating certificate on July 25, 1923. “Henry Graves Jr. has one of the most expensive hobbies in New York... he is a watch collector. He concentrates upon prize winning watches...” stating one newspaper report in 1938. Provenance : Henry Graves, Jr. Gwendolen Fullerton Reginald H. Fullerton, Jr.

Encased in 1926 and movement from 1914, an 18K gold open face First Prize Observatory chronometer pocket watch, made for Henry Graves Jr. and engraved with his crest. In mint condition, the present gold chronometer pocket watch is yet another striking example of Henry Graves’s quest for absolute precision. Cased in gold - which is rare for Observatory watches - the present piece bears the following engraving on the cuvette: “AWARDED FIRST PRIZE, Best Average Running Geneva Astronomical Observatory Timing Contest 1925-1926, No. 170358 Made for Henry Graves Jr. New York by Patek Philippe & Co., Geneva Switzerland”. Patek Philippe chronometer movements were made to the highest possible standards and were specially adjusted by master “régleurs” such as the celebrated F. Modoux, Henri Wehrli (like the present watch), J. Golay-Audemars and C. Batifolier. Watches prepared by them, particularly those awarded prizes at Observatory Contests, were several times more expensive than the standard ones. Made for Henry Graves Jr New York by Patek Philippe & Co., Geneva Switzerland », back engraved with the Crest of Henry Graves, Jr., and motto Esse Quam Videri. Provenance : Henry Graves, Jr. Gwendolen Fullerton Reginald H. Fullerton, Jr.

Circa 1932, a historically important, unique, platinum open face, one-minute tourbillon chronometer watch with Guillaume balance, original fitted wooden presentation box and Bulletin d’Observatoire.
Made for Henry Graves Jr., the present watch, a platinum open face watch with one-minute tourbillon regulator, was delivered to Mr. Graves in 1935.
Two years earlier, this superb watch had taken part in the Geneva Observatory Timing Contest; in 1934 it won the First Prize, with a score of 872.2 points - at the time a precision world record, which this horological masterpiece retained for several years.
According to the accompanying timing sheets from the Geneva Observatory, the present chronometer watch participated in the 1933 contests, where it was awarded the first prize, with a record result of 872.2 points.
It held this record in the chronometer category C until 1944 when, due to a change in the calculation method, such comparisons were no longer possible.
The present unique watch is further accompanied by a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the production in 1932 of the present watch with platinum dial, black enamel hour markers and coat-of-arms engraved on the back cover, as well as its subsequent sale on July 29, 1935.
Provenance : until 1989 Henry Graves Jr. Collection. It the same collection since 1989 when sold during the legendary auction «The Art of Patek Philippe».

Movement from 1912, sold in 1926, a rare and early, important and highly attractive, open face, 18K gold pocket watch with two-train trip minute- repeating, specially made for Henry Graves and given to Reginald H. Fullerton on the occasion of his marriage to Gwendolen Graves. The present watch was given by Henry Graves, Jr. to his new son-in-law Reginald H. Fullerton on the occasion of his marriage to Graves’s only daughter Gwendolen on June 5, 1926. It is interesting to note that the present watch was in fact delivered two weeks before the wedding, having been sold on May 26, 1926, as stated in the Extract from the Archives. When activated by pushing a small button within the crown, the trip repeat chimes the hours, quarters, and minutes on demand, powered by the movement’s second train. As opposed to traditional repeaters that strike on demand via a spring-driven slide on the side of the case, trip repeaters allow the user to activate the repeater effortlessly, by lightly pressing a button. Provenance : Henry Graves, Jr. Gwendolen Fullerton Reginald H. Fullerton, Jr.

Movement from 1910, encased in 1927, a rare, gold, slim, hunter case, minute repeating dress watch specially made for Henry Graves Jr. With an Extract from the Archives confirming the manufacture of the movement in 1910, the encasement in 1927 and the sale on October 18, 1949 to the Henri Stern Watch Agency, the present watch was delivered to Tiffany & Co., New York on November 30, 1949. It was sold to Henry Graves, Jr. for $1100. It represents the only known simple minute repeater owned by Henry Graves, Jr. Provenance : Henry Graves, Jr. Gwendolen Fullerton Reginald H. Fullerton, Jr.