Patek Philippe. An exceptional, fine and rare 18K gold keyless wind open face minute repeating, perpetual calendar pocket watch with moon phase gifted by Scottish-American Industrialist Andrew & Louise Carnegie to their kinsman in 1912Date: Manufactured 1902, sold October 17th 1912Movement: Swiss lever, Cotes de Genève finish, cut and compensated bi-metallic balance, wolf's tooth winding, swan neck regulation, two polished hammers striking on two gongs, No.112307Dial: White enamel, black Arabic numeral hour markers, black outer minute track with red Arabic numeral 5 minute markers, subsidiary dials at 12, 3, 6, and 9 for seconds combined with date, day, month and moon phase, blued steel spade hands, No.112307Case: Polished round, monogram to back depicting the letters 'CSC', presentation inscription to cuvette reads Presented to my dear kinsman Claud Strachan Carnegie marking twenty five years of warmest friendship from Andrew & Louise Carnegie, October 1912, quick set buttons to band at 6 and between 11 and 12, repeat slide at 3, case No.257931, cuvette No.112307Signed: Case, dial & movementSize: 54mm Accompaniments: Extract from the Archives Footnotes:Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919), once the richest man in the world, was a pioneer in the realm of iron and steel works and helped build so much of the infrastructure that forms part of the now American identity. From exceptionally humble beginnings, Carnegie would use a combination of ruthless efficiency, creative thinking and opportunity-seeking to establish his industrial empire before embracing an era of philanthropy.Born in 1835, Carnegie grew up in near poverty in Dunfermline, Scotland. Times were hard and whilst Carnegie was very young, the struggles to find local work led to the family emigrating to the US in 1848. It was in Pittsburgh that Carnegie first demonstrated his mettle and under the mentorship of Pennsylvania Railroad General Superintendent Thomas A. Scott (1823-1881) the foundations were laid that turned him from messenger boy to famous Industrialist.As Scott's personal secretary and with his ability to spot opportunities during the American Civil War, it was not long before Carnegie's connection to the iron and steel industries began in earnest. Bridge building, along with mining and rail building, would go on to be the three cornerstones of his monumental empire. By 1901, nearing the age of 70, Carnegie's ethos on life had changed. He craved more family time and thus sold Carnegie Steel to John Pierpoint Morgan for a staggering $480 million dollars. It was this deal that catapulted him to the position of wealthiest man in the world. From this point on Carnegie devoted his time and energy to donating his vast wealth to charitable organisations and initiatives. As well as the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York he also left over 2500 public libraries, numerous organisations dedicated to the pursuit of science, peace and education and the remaining $135m of his fortune to the Carnegie Corporation of New York as part of his legacy.It was in this era of giving that the current lot was gifted by Carnegie and his wife Louise to Claud Strachan Carnegie. Little is known about who Claud was but most likely it refers to Claud Cathcart Rennie-Strachan-Carnegie of Seaton House, Angus. Claud had left a strong impression on Carnegie and this is reflected in the engraving on the cuvette which reads 'Presented to my dear kinsman Claud Strachan Carnegie marking twenty five years of warmest friendship from Andrew & Louise Carnegie, October 1912' and a monogram of CSC further decorates the case. With an eye for the finer things in life, it is not unsurprising that they chose a Patek Philippe to represent their gratitude.Patek Philippe have produced some of the finest ultra complicated watches in history with fantastic examples on either side of the introduction of computer aided design. The current lot features a perpetual calendar, moon phase and is also minute repeating. This was not some throwaway token but a real execution of fine and complicated timekeeping that demonstrated a true appreciation of friendship. This watch is being offered on behalf of a Scottish Family and has never been offered at auction before. It offers a truly rare and exceptional once in a lifetime opportunity to own a piece a history – one that represents the fusing of horological accomplishment, philanthropic endeavour and industrial legacy.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
