We are proud to offer today this extremely fine and rare ladies Patek Philippe from 1930's made for Los Angeles' most prominent retailer Brock & Co.

With its dramatic dimensional triangular case and which has a significant curve to fit the wrist, it showcases a distinctive and seldom seen style from Patek Philippe. The boldness of the design is all the more pleasant and interesting given that Patek Philippe tended toward more restrained designs.

Its case and clasp are set with seven original factory step cut rubies that weight approximate 1.4 carats total weight. The rubies have a beautiful tone. As one would expect Patek spared no expense in crafting this watch so both the case and bracelet are heavy in gold, though not at all burdensome to wear.

Besides the wonderful case, the dial has an extremely unusual design which we have only seen before on one other Patek despite having seen thousands.

It is salmon colored, complementing the rose gold case, and has holes that serve as the markers at all of the lesser hours. The holes of the dial show through to the movement plate underneath that creates the effect of "markers." The primary hours have traditional applied markers in a square shape. The clasp of the band attaches at the top end of the case. Even the crown is unique and unlike any other we have seen on a Patek.

It truly is an exceptional Patek which has really captured our hearts. Our photos couldn't begin to do it justice.

The original case made for Patek and Brock & Co. bears correct stamping. Given that this is a jeweler specific piece it likely was made in very small numbers. We have not seen another example. A brief article on Brock & Co. can be found here and many others can be found online. In its heyday Brock & Co. was called "The Tiffany of the West." Their flagship store was in a gorgeously designed building on 7th and Olive in downtown L.A., and they had a second retail showroom at the luxurious Beverly Wiltshire hotel in Beverly Hills. Tiffany and Co. even approached Brock's to do a merger to become Tiffany-Brock & Co.

The watch comes from the estate of Academy Award winning cinematographer Gregory Tolland, and the watch is fitting for the wife of someone with a world-famous eye for beautiful aesthetics. Mr. Tolland's daughter Lothian married the legendary comic Red Skelton. We are currently offering several of Mr. and Mrs. Skelton's watches.

Powering it is its illustrious original handwound movement. Patek designed the extremely high-grade movement to maintain very accurate timekeeping even across a wide range of temperatures, positions, and even amounts of power left (isochronism), something only the highest top tier of mens movements could do. With eight adjustments, it is among the finest hand-winding ladies movements ever built.

We were fortunate to aquire it in excellent condition with all of its original parts. The case is better than near mint and still retains strong lines and perfectly crisp engraving on the back. The dial is bright and clean, perhaps original or perhaps restored in vintage times. And its movement is clean. Photos of the inside available upon request.

One of our Master Watchmakers has freshly serviced the watch. It is keeping generally accurate vintage time, running within a couple of minutes per day.

Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. international warranty on the movement and its function and a full-page custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity.

Please inquire if you would like us to obtain an Extract from the Patek Philippe archives for you. Patek charges 500 Swiss Francs to provide one.

Gregg Tolland:
Gregg Tolland was an award-winning American cinematographer known for his cinematography innovations. Voted one of the top 10 most influential cinematographers in the history of film by the International Cinematographers Guild in 2003, he worked on such monumental films as Orson Welles' Citizen Kane (1941), William Wyler's The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), John Ford's The Grapes of Wrath, and The Long Voyage Home (both, 1940).

He is also known for his work as a director of photography for Wuthering Heights (1939), The Westerner (1940), Ball of Fire (1941), The Outlaw (1943), Song of the South (1946) and The Bishop's Wife (1947).

Toland earned six Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography, and won for his work on Wuthering Heights despite his life being cut tragically short at only 44 years old.

He collaborated with some of the most acclaimed directors of his time, including John Ford, Howard Hawks, William Wyler, and Alfred Hitchcock.

One of his most notable contributions was the use of deep focus photography. His work on "Citizen Kane" is particularly celebrated for its pioneering use of deep focus, allowing all elements of the frame to remain sharply in focus, transforming the visual storytelling in cinema.

• Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
• Retailed by: Brock & Co.
• Country of origin: Switzerland / France
• Serial no.: 840,899
• Year made: c. early 1940's
• Functions: Hours and Minutes
• Designed for: Ladies
• Case material: 18K rose gold and rubies
• Case condition: Better than near mint and still retains strong lines and perfectly crisp engraving on the back.
• Dimensions: 15.5mm wide (excluding crown) by 39mm long lug tip to tip
• Dial: Salmon with cutouts for the lesser hour markers that see through to the movement underneath, applied gold squares for the primary hours, correctly signed only France at the bottom of the dial, bright and clean, perhaps original or perhaps restored in vintage times
• Hands: Original, blue steel "feuilles"
• Movement type: Extremely high grade, signed Patek Philippe, 18 jewels, manually wound, 8 adjustments to maintain accuracy across various positions, temperatures, and amounts of wind, rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, straight line lever escapement, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, index regulator
• Movement markings: Patek Philippe & Co., Swiss, Geneve, Eighteen 18 Jewels, 8 Adjustments, No. 840,899
• Band: Original integrated 18K yellow gold heavy herringbone bracelet, ruby set clasp attaches to the top side of the case, fits a wrist up to approx. 6.5 inches without adjustment by a jeweler, better than near mint condition
• Serviced: One of our Master Watchmakers has freshly serviced the watch.
• Timing: Timed to on a state-of-the-art computerized system. It is keeping generally accurate vintage time, running within a couple of minutes per day. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an experienced team of watchmakers both of whom each have over forty years of experience and a large number of parts.
• Warranty: 1-year international warranty. Please email concierge@cotwatches.com for details.
• Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity
• Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for all of our watches. If you are in any way unsatisfied with the watch we will fully refund the purchase price anytime within 7 days after the watch has been received. Our goal is to exceed our client's expectations throughout the buying experience.

All watches are packaged carefully and mailed double boxed in specially constructed, reinforced shipping boxes designed for high value items. All watches are sent fully insured with signature required. Most of our domestic shipping is done through FedEx. At times we will also use USPS Express Mail, and we can accommodate most requests for your preferred carrier. International shipments are sent USPS International Express Mail or FedEx.

The purchase price will be the declared value of the merchandise on any required customs forms. The payment of all customs duties, tariffs, and taxes are the responsibility of the buyer.

Also note that water resistance of vintage watches can no longer be guaranteed and is not covered under the watch's warranty. We do not recommend getting a vintage watch wet, even one that was originally designed to be waterproof.

To get an idea of how this watch will look on the wrist, please use the Watch Sizing Guide