by Kyle Stults on June 16, 2011
Stainless Steel Minute Repeater…
Here is the first look at Patek Philippe’s “unique piece” for the Only Watch 2011 charity auction in Monaco, a breathtaking stainless steel minute repeater model (Ref. 3939A). Of note, this is the first time that Patek has produced a stainless steel minute repeater with a black enamel dial based on the emblematic Ref. 3939 model. Previous versions of the Ref 3939 were all precious metals – platinum (Ref 3939HP), yellow gold (Ref 3939 HJ), white gold (Ref 3939 HP) and rose gold (Ref 3939 HR). This watch lacks the “flair” that many of the other ONLY WATCH 2011 pieces offer, but of course “discretion” is the Patek way. For many watch connoisseurs, Patek Philippe’s Ref. 3939 – with its minute repeater, tourbillon, and subsidiary seconds dial – constitutes the apex of watchmaking, the most beautiful blend of elegance and discretion, and I wholeheartedly concur – this watch is a true object of desire! Look for this watch to bring big bucks in support of the ONLY WATCH 2011 cause.
Patek Philippe Minute Repeater Tourbillon (Ref 3939A) for ONLY WATCH 2011
33.3mm stainless steel case, black enamel dial with Breguet-style hands, seconds subdial, mechanical manual-wind movement (Caliber R TO 27 PS) (COSC) featuring minute repeater and tourbillon (two gong chimes activated by slide piece on the case), interchangeable full back/sapphire crystal case back
mechanical manual-wind movement (Caliber R TO 27 PS) (COSC) featuring minute repeater and tourbillon (two gong chimes activated by slide piece on the case)
Yesterday Patek Philippe announced several exciting developments related to its calibers (movements) that will likely shape the brand for decades to come. Also, it unveiled the Ref 5550P Perpetual Calendar, a 300 piece limited edition watch with the new Patek Caliber Q 240Si which features some new advanced silicon components developed by Patek. Specifically, the Ref 5550P with Caliber 240 Q Si will contain Patek’s new “GyromaxSi” silicon-based balance wheel. GyromaxSi is part of an important trio of recently developed silicon-based components (all pictured below) that Patek now refers to as “Oscillomax”. Above all this, Patek also announced that its silicon Spiromax balance spring (used in Patek Calibers since 2008) will become the new standard and thus included in all future Patek Philippe calibers, a transition which will occur gradually.
Patek 5550P Perpetual Calendar with Oscillomax
Limited Edition 300 pieces
37.2mm platinum case (8.8mm thick), Caliber 240 Q Si ultra-thin self-winding mechanical movement
Note that the Patek 5550P dial bears the notation “Advanced Research”, a nod to the Patek Philippe Advanced Research department created six years ago to create innovative components from the latest materials using the latest technologies — with the ultimate goal of producing more reliable and more accurate timepieces.
| Patek GyromaxSi Balance |
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The trio of components you see here will be known as: Oscillomax
| Patek Pulsomax Escapement | Patek Spiromax Balance Spring |
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Basically what all this means is that Patek is making a big leap forward to adopt and standardize the use of silicon-based components in its movements, as these components offer better performance and reliability. WatchTime and Worltempus (Elizabeth Doerr) have the full story if you click through.
Patek Caliber 240 Q Si
I have highlighted the Oscillomax components and engraving:
A grand debut for the Aquanaut series: the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time (Ref. 5164A). This adds to the Aquanaut collection a new Travel Time model with two hour hands for two time zones – local time and home time – and a new self-winding movement, Patek Caliber 324 S C FUS. The dial sports two day/night indicators and an analog date. The Patek 5164 price is $32,300.
Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time (Ref. 5164A)
40.8mm steel case (10-4 o’clock), Dual time zone mechanism indicating local and home time Local and “home” day/night indication in apertures
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The new “Triple Complication” Ref. 5208 is the first Patek Philippe wristwatch to combine a chronograph, a minute repeater, and an instantaneous perpetual calendar with aperture displays. It is also Patek’s first Grand Complication with a Spiromax balance spring and a Pulsomax escapement — two silicon-based components developed by Patek Philippe.
Patek Philippe Ref. 5208 Grand Complication
42mm platinum case, Mechanical self-winding movement (Caliber R CH 27 PS QI), Interchangeable full back and sapphire-crystal case back
Minute repeater, monopusher chronograph and instantaneous perpetual calendar
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Patek Philippe is expanding its classic chronograph collection with the introduction of a new perpetual calendar model. The Patek Ref. 5270 is fitted with a column wheel chronograph movement and, like all the brand’s grand complications, has two interchangeable backs: one in sapphire crystal that reveals the complexity of the movement and the elegance of its finishing, the other, a white gold solid back that can be personalized with a dedication or an engraving.
Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph (Ref. 5270)
41mm white gold case, Patek hand-wound CH 29-535 PS Q calibre, silvered opaline dial with black oxidised white-gold hour markers and hands
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“…I am spotting for rare, unique and beautiful watches….”
If you are a die-hard watch fan, then you know all about “watch spotting”. I am yet to hang out with a watch guy who does not also confess to checking out the wrists of his fellow co-workers or countrymen in the office, on the sidewalk, at the stoplight, etc. etc. Often watch spotting is done discreetly — but not always, as you will see in a moment. It is likewise fun finding oneself on the receiving end of a watch spotting (i.e. you are asked “Hey, what’s that on your wrist?”).
This leads me to my focus today, which is an exceptional collection of wrist shot photos taken by a gent who was recently vacationing in the Cote d’Azur (aka the French Riviera aka Nice/Cannes/Monaco/etc.). Cote d’Azur truly is a “lifestyles of the rich and famous” scene — from the huge yachts to the Ferraris and Lambos right down to the Audemars Piguet and Patek’s on the wrists, it’s pretty much full of people with off-the-charts wealth.
The fellow who runs “How’s Hamp” (cool blog, btw) did an excellent job of photographing and documenting his watch spottings for people to enjoy. His album mostly includes “Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille and Patek Philippe watches but a few Rolex and Panerai’s are featured too.” I have no doubt that you will enjoy the photos. Click through here to see “How’s Hamp: Watch Spotting in Cote d’Azur.”
Also while we are on the topic, I want to also quickly mention that the enjoyment of seeing “who’s wearing what” is what led me to create “Wrist Shot”- the first Facebook App for watch owners, collectors & enthusiasts. The app was launched earlier this summer but is still in development phase (we are working on the enhanced version now). You can read more about Wrist Shot HERE or check it out on Facebook HERE.
Finally, let me give a special thanks to the man himself (Hampus) for the head’s up — now go check out his “Watch Spotting in Cote d’Azur!!!
I am so utterly disappointed with Christie’s behavior (not answering legitimate questions that were put to them) in the recent case of the “Howard Hughes” Patek Philippe that I wanted to lay out in greater detail some of the findings of my investigation which ultimately led to my view that the provenance of the watch was suspect. I had initially planned to publish some of these details prior to the auction, but I did not do so on the belief that Christie’s would have answered my questions and made the need for such detailed discussion irrelevant. Before I get into details, let me first say that my original article on this watch (June 3) reflected great excitement for the watch to be sold at auction. It was only after details and questions were brought to my attention that I decided to change my posture on the watch.
In brief, the two areas I will drill-down on here are: 1) differing accounts of Donald Woolbright by a self-interested parties (Christie’s and Woolbright) vs. non-interested parties (2 authors of Howard Hughes biographies published in 2004), and 2) a couple of “oddities” including a “note” from Hughes to Woolbright which accompanied the watch, and Woolbright’s obituary which makes no mention of the man’s 6+ years of employment for Hughes.
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Meet Donald R. Woolbright (Christie’s Account)
You can read the full account in the e-catalogue, page 266, but I shall summarize here. According to Christie’s, the watch comes from Donald R. Woolbright, a man who was contracted by Hughes to “perform various surveillance assignments” in the mid-1960s. The watch has purportedly been with Woolbright (now deceased — more on this later) and his family since it was given to him by Howard Hughes. According to Christie’s, after one particularly “extensive” surveillance assignment, Hughes was so very pleased with Woolbright’s performance that he decided to give Woolbright the watch as a bonus. And so the Patek Philippe Ref. 1463 (today, Christie’s Lot 385) was purportedly delivered to Donald R. Woolbright, along with a note from Hughes — “From my wrist to yours, very pleased with your results. Many thanks, Howard.”
Meet Donald R. Woolbright (Biographers’ Account)
I cite both Citizen Hughes, by Michael Drosnin, and Howard Hughes: His Life and Madness, by Donald L. Bartlett & James B. Steele, in which Donald Woolbright is mentioned many times. The numerous references to Donald R. Woolbright in the aforementioned biographies are quite revealing as to this man and his background, and they seem to tell a different story than the Christie’s account.
Michael Drosnin writes on page 24 in Citizen Hughes:
A product of the north St. Louis slums, the car salesman [Donald Woolbright] had run up a hometown police record almost as long as Gordon’s list of screen credits. He had twenty-six arrests, on charges ranging from burglary and fencing to assault and carrying a concealed weapon….Back in St. Louis, police called him a “nickel-and-dimer”, a street hustler with no real stature in the criminal community…
Barlett & Steele gave a similar introduction to Woolbright on page 524 of Howard Hughes: His Life and Madness:
The car salesman was Donald Ray Woolbright, who had moved to Los Angeles just three years earlier. Back in St. Louis, where he grew up in the city’s slums, Woolbright had complied a record of two dozen arrests for a variety of alleged offenses, including burglary, assault, and counterfeiting. When Woolbright moved to California in 1971, the intelligence unit of the St. Louis Police Department sent a message to the Los Angeles police advising them of his background and describing him as a “con-man, burglar and fence.”
Of note, in the combined 1,100+ pages of these two books there is absolutely no reference to Woolbright being a “surveillance” man for Hughes. The reason that Woolbright is mentioned in these books is because of his mysterious involvement in “Hughesgate” and a notorious incident in Hughes’ life known as the “Romaine Street burglary”.
Woolbright’s involvement in the (never solved) Romaine St. robbery eventually led to his indictment for receiving stolen property and attempting to extort a $1 million ransom for the papers that were stolen from Hughes’ Romain Street offices (see page 542 of Howard Hughes: His Life and Madness). He was convicted on the extortion charge, but later acquitted on what could be considered a technicality.
A man claiming (I say this only because I have not attempted to verify his identity) to be Donald Woolbright’s son commented on one of my earlier articles that it was Hughes himself who orchestrated the Romaine Street burglary. I am not aware of evidence which supports this notion. Also asserted by Woolbright’s son is that “What many do not know is that Mr. Hughes had extensive surveilence done on his own employees.” but again I am not aware of evidence that supports this assertion.
Donald R. Woolbright’s Obituary
Donald R. Woolbright passed away on March 14, 2009 in Ulman, Missouri. This is consistent with historical record from one of my cited sources — we know from page 533 of Howard Hughes: His Life and Madness — after the Romaine Street saga, “late in 1974, Donald Woolbright packed up his family, sold his house in Canoga Park, and moved back to Missouri, where he bought a small farm near Williamsville, a tiny hamlet in the Ozarks about seventeen miles northwest of Poplar Bluff.”
Here are the relevant lines of his obituary, the full text is posted at Alternative Funeral & Cremation Services of Saint Peters, MO:
Donald Ray Woolbright, age 68, died Thursday, May 14, 2009 in Ulman, Missouri. Mr. Woolbright was born September 4, 1940 in Trumann, Arkansas, the son of the late Clyde William and Jalah Idena Sandlin Woolbright. He was retired from the automotive business, was a veteran of the United States Army and a member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church.
Curiously, there no mention of Woolbright’s 6+ years of employment for Howard Hughes (which Woolbright “always fondly remembered”, according to Christie’s).
The Note from Hughes to Woolbright
As I mentioned above, when the Patek Philippe Ref 1463 watch was purportedly delivered to Donald R. Woolbright it was accompanied by a note from Hughes which read:
From my wrist to yours, very pleased with your results. Many thanks, Howard.
The oddity here is that the oft-paranoid Hughes was notorious for NOT wearing a watch or carrying money, according to Paul B. Winn, a former personal secretary of Hughes. Sure it is possible that Hughes was just being cordial, but given the other questions in play here, I have to wonder about this note. Also, it is unknown whether or not this note even exists or if it is just part of the “story”.
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In summary, it was with these details in hand that I submitted the following questions to Christie’s via email (they refused my phone calls) and in my open letter:
- Who told Christie’s the story of Donald Woolbright and this watch?
- Did Christie’s independently corroborate this story (i.e. that the watch was given by Hughes to Woolbright)?
- Is there any tangible/physical evidence to support the notion that this watch has any association with Howard Hughes (e.g. the handwritten note)? If so, has the authenticity of the tangible/physical items been corroborated?
- Was/is Christie’s aware of the accounts of Woolbright as detailed in the two aforementioned books?
These questions were — and remain — unanswered.
Lastly, I will lastly add that Geoff Schumacher, author of Howard Hughes: Power, Paranoia & Palace Intrigue (Stephens Press, 2008) and proprietor of http://www.howardhughesblog.com also voiced his serious doubts as to the watch’s provenance.
At this point, I do not plan to pursue this matter further and barring any developments this will be my last post on the subject. I felt it was important to lay out a few additional details for the readers of this blog.
“Lot 385″ Sold On a Story….Howard Hughes Turns In His Grave…
SOLD!
for
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“…Unfortunately the purchaser of this watch remains undocumented and sales records of this transaction may not be available…” (page 266, Christie’s June 16 Auction catalogue)
It is unfortunate that serious questions regarding the provenance of this watch were posed to Christie’s, yet Christie’s did not answer them. In my view, unless and until these questions are properly answered by Christie’s, this watch’s provenance, namely its purported association with the late Howard Hughes, should be considered highly doubtful.
Perpetuelle’s additional, in-depth coverage of this watch can be seen here:
by Kyle Stults on June 15, 2010
An open letter…
Dear Christie’s Watch and Press Department:
Yesterday I submitted a few questions to you in an attempt to clarify and better understand the provenance of the “Howard Hughes” Patek Philippe Ref 1463 (“Lot 385″ in your June 16 (today’s) auction). I did this in good faith and because, as I also indicated, the account of Donald Woolbright in the Christie’s catalogue is inconsistent with two meticulously researched biographies of the life of Howard Hughes and in which Woolbright is mentioned numerous times (Citizen Hughes, by Michael Drosnin, and Howard Hughes: His Life and Madness, by Donald L. Bartlett & James B. Steele). In my view as well as others, these inconsistencies call into question the watch’s purported association with Howard Hughes, specifically that it was gifted to Woolbright by Hughes. Your initial response to my inquiries, as I noted here, was that “we are researching the inquiries and will respond accordingly.”
Today, you gave me the following response in regards to my inquiries: “After further research of this item, Christie’s is pleased to offer the Patek Philippe Reference 1463 on June 16 as planned.” First let me say that you can rest assured that I have no doubt that you are pleased to offer the watch as planned! Bravo and enjoy the commission. However, I would like to make clear that your pitifully empty response in no way addressed my inquiries.
Maybe I was a bit naive in thinking that you might directly answer my questions. Maybe I was also a bit naive in thinking that “answering questions” was a standard part of the transparency and trust that is paramount to your business. I find the lack of transparency here unfortunate. Were I an interested and potential bidder for Lot 385, would you treat my inquiries in the same way?
I also find it unfortunate that a former personal secretary to Howard Hughes (whom I consider to be a generally non-interested party in this matter) and the ostensible consignor of Lot 385 (whom I consider to be a self-interested party in this matter, much like yourself) are engaging in a “battle of words” elsewhere on my blog when I believe that you could so easily put all the curious minds to rest by sharing, for example, some or all of the carefully documented set of corroborating and independently verified evidence that you presumably have on file. But you have not, at least to me, and this has only served to heighten my sense that the full story behind this watch is far from known.
These things said, I thought I might try once more to gain some clarity as to the provenance of Lot 385, and so here (again), are my questions:
- Who told Christie’s the story of Donald Woolbright and this watch?
- Did Christie’s independently corroborate this story (i.e. that the watch was given by Hughes to Woolbright)?
- Is there any tangible/physical evidence to support the notion that this watch has any association with Howard Hughes (e.g. the handwritten note)? If so, has the authenticity of the tangible/physical items been corroborated?
- Was/is Christie’s aware of the accounts of Woolbright as detailed in the two aforementioned books?
Without answers to these questions, it is my view that this watch’s purported association with Howard Hughes is just that — purported and unproven.
by Kyle Stults on June 14, 2010
Clarifying facts are needed…
On June 3, 2010, I wrote an article about the “Howard Hughes” Patek Philippe Ref. 1463 watch. It was subsequently brought to my attention that there are inconsistencies in the story of this watch, namely its purported link to American icon Howard Hughes. The watch, whose value Christie’s estimates to be $150,000 – $200,000, is to be sold by the famous auction house (as “Lot 385″) on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 as part of the “Important Watches Featuring The Leo Collection: 31 Sophisticated Wristwatches Curated by Frank Schilling” sale.
You can read Christie’s full account of this watch in its e-catalogue for the auction (page 266). Troubling inconsistencies in Christie’s account of the provenance of this watch arise when compared to other publicly available information and conversations with those who were close to Hughes.
These inconsistencies have subsequently been brought to the attention of Christie’s, along with questions which attempt to clarify the provenance of the watch. Christie’s thus far has only stated “we are researching the inquiries and will respond accordingly”.
A complete response is thus pending — and expected — prior to seeing this watch go under the hammer, if it should go at all.
As are many of the stories intertwined with the life of Howard Hughes, this one appears to be a long and convoluted one.
Update: I would be remiss not to credit Massimo and the readers of his fine blog at Orologi di Classe (Italian) for being the first (June 2) to point out that the PP engraving on the buckle of the watch was also misspelled. While I have not questioned the authenticity of the Ref 1463 itself, I can say that this feature is certainly an oddity!
Stay tuned in.
