1

A Day
Observed

A story presented by

Scene 1:
‘Morning’

It was a bright cold day with glassy surfaces that looked hard.
Into the square frame he stood as if in a dream.

What emerged was precisely what he expected to find: a reflection of memory images. Contemplating his face in the photo frame he waited.

1960s lucite and chrome 3 image photo frame

By the steady hands of his watch, he listened to time. Every day for the past sixteen days he saw her. Silver lingered in the crease of
an open book.

Rolex burlwood dial, Jubilee bracelet Miniature
oar English university trophy, sterling silver.

So absorbed in his thoughts
he hardly saw the platinum catch-all, the key, or the revelation locked inside those lapis lazuli cufflinks tossed unmistakably in cold blue.

Hans Hanson catch-all. Mid-century, Danish sterling silver. Stirrup money clip, by Hermès. Padlock keyring, sterling silver " Tie bar-slide " Round lapis lazuli cufflinks" Square cufflinks, two tone rose and yellow gold, diamond."

Only by whirling on his heel could he hope to comprehend
the panorama.

Shoe horn, circa 1930. American sterling silver
Scene 2:
‘Noon’

He remained.Trapped in that enormous room,
unmistakably familiar in feeling yet so peculiar.

Above the mantle was
displayed an Austrian hound
of impeccable integrity.

Hagenauer sculpture, 1930

His gaze fell on the letter opener. By accident she had learnt more about his life from the contents of that letter than anywhere.

Dunhill letter opener with lighter top, circa 1950

Cleopatra’s eye reflected
the sun. Through the hypnotism
of precious metals there
emerged a dark slender shadow.

Cleopatra’s eye magnifying glass. Mid-century, gold plated
Hermès weighted pen. Silver plated.

A lighter presented itself, smooth to the touch
it gave the impression of
intelligent company.

Table lighter St Dupont, circa 1960. Gold plate
Scene 3:
‘Evening’

All this time light was receding from the room.

“I should explain why I spend so much time here”, said the silhouette. Leaves moved like shadows across her eyes.

Hermès rope bottle opener. Plated silver.

It’s not too late to turn back. Time moved with faint sounds.

Venini hourglass. Hand-blown lurid Murano glass.

He unscrewed the telescopic cup, rolled and remained still. Black eyes on the dice prophesied a new cycle.

Telescopic cup, J. E. Cauldwell. Gold plated. Dice,
Cartier for America. Vitreous enamel glass, silver

Staring down at the varnished surface her mouth worried him while her eyes examined the gold cufflink.

Audemar Piguet evening watch. gold plated, Roman dial, alligator strap
Scene 4:
‘Night’

Everything went crashing black.

Pale graceful hands placed
the gold stud box delicately
on the table.

Men’s Edwardian jewellery box, 1910. Gold plated.
Mid-century British cigar ashtray. Sterling silver and crystal.

He lit a match to make sure the watch had really stopped. Smoke lingered from its vesta case.

Realist wrapped tobacco leaf march vesta. Silver.

As the travel clock neared
one the figure vanished into dappled shadows.

Art Deco Jaeger LeCoultre travel clock.
Gold and silver plated. Retailed by Aspray.

On the newly varnished table two bronze shot cups sat alive like in a dream.

Tooth shot cup by Foundwell. Bronze and silver plated.
Set of 4, 3 silver 1 gold. Heath & Midleton champagne decanters circa 1900.
Sterling silver and glass.
The End

‘A DAY OBSERVED’
A story by FOUNDWELL
Photography Matthieu Lavanchy, creative direction OK-RM,
notes by Kate O’Brien and objects selected by Alan Bedwell

‘A DAY OBSERVED’
A story by FOUNDWELL
Photography Matthieu Lavanchy,
creative direction OK-RM
notes by Kate O’Brien
and objects selected by Alan Bedwell

Early and Rare Sterling Silver Gorham Martini Mixing Bucket

Golf Cocktail Shaker
and Matching Golf Bag Cup

Sterling Silver Woven Bottle Coaster

Foundwell

A SELECTION OF ITEMS BY THE PRODUCER OF
CRAFTED GOODS & PURVEYOR OF ANTIQUE WATCHES,
JEWELLERY & OTHER SUCH OBJECTS

Shopping Bag

Your cart is empty.


A stainless steel Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5066 on rubber watch strap. This is perhaps, alongside the Nautilus, one of the most iconic and sought after wristwatches in the world. When it comes to steel sport watches, trust Patek to deliver one of the most recognizable, desirable and expensive options! 

A child of the 1970’s, The Nautilus had already paved the way for Patek Philippe to enter the luxury sport watch market. Fast forward to 1997, and it was time for Patek to add a new design to its offering. Welcome to the world… the Aquanaut, a true child of the 1990’s. Its design reinterpreted the Nautilus’s signature porthole shape but made it feel a little more modern and a suitable foil for those that either had a Nautilus or looked for something different altogether – all sitting on a new brick pattern rubber strap which references the dial’s design. This was then paired with a beautifully made stainless steel butterfly deployant buckle.

It was in the height of the .com boom.  Exuberance ran aplenty in the west as millionaires were being created at a rate never seen in the western world, and, for the first time in history many of them were younger.  It was this generation that really adopted the internet and what potnetial pwoer it might have.  Patek Philippe needed to respond to this new client.  The ever popular Nautlilus was now twenty years old, and Patek needed to respond with a new, more modern watch that would appeal to this younger crowd.  

The reference 5066 was released in 1996. The Patek Philippe Ref. 5060A was the legendary timepiece that started it all. At a modest 35.6mm, it was smaller than the contemporary 'mid-size' Nautilus Ref. 3800/1A, which measured 37.5mm. Yet the similarities between the two designs are immediately apparent - most notably the iconic eight-sided, port hole-inspired bezel conceived by the legendary Gérald Genta. Similarly, the satin-brushed case is unmistakably Nautilus in aesthetic, but with a more modern, refined feel. A solid, screw-down caseback and crown ensured a robust 120m water resistance rating, making this a truly versatile sports watch

The watch appears to be lightly polished, as is more often the case with watches from this period. This precious example is in excellent condition overall and is commensurate with age for a piece that is over 20 years old. The distinctive and unique dial is in perfect condition, and the Tritium on the dial has already aged into an attractive warm lemon colour with matching original hand set. The band and deployant are in excellent condition.  The watch is powered by the Patek self-winding calibre 330 SC, a manufacture movement with sweep seconds hand and date indicator. Measuring just 3.5mm thick, it was equipped with Patek Philippe’s patented Gyromax balance wheel and oscillated at 21,600 vph. A 21k gold unidirectional rotor was responsible for charging up the spring, which stored enough power for 48 hours of use. Although not visible beneath the solid caseback, the movement was still expertly finished, as attested to by the Geneva Seal (the Patek Philippe Seal wasn’t introduced until 2009).

The Aquanaut's defining feature was its innovative rubber strap - a first for Patek Philippe and a bold move at the time. Developed over a year using more than 20 materials, the strap was impervious to saltwater, UV damage, and bacteria, earning approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. Perfectly suited for water sports and beach activities, Patek Philippe aptly christened it the "Tropical" strap. The original Patek black rubber watch strap measures just under seven inches currently, but can be cut down to a smaller size, should the be required. If a larger band is required, this can be sourced.

This example, the reference 5066, can be thought of as the second generation of the original Ref. 5060. It kept the same 35.6mm case and the same self-winding Calibre 330 SC but introduced a sapphire caseback. It was also made available in a yellow gold case with rubber strap in the Ref. 5066 J-001.

This is a rare opportunity to own a wonderful watch that is perhaps at just the beginning of its journey of collectibility.  

All watches are protected against mechanical failure under a 1 year warranty by Foundwell. The watch has recently undergone a Patek Philippe service.  There are no papers or box present.


Price $33,795.00

×

Enquire
Item Dimensions
Case Width (not inc. crown)
1.401575 inches (3.5600005cm)