The Patek Philippe Trossi Legenda Chronograph Sold at Sotheby’s for the Sum of 2.25 Million CHF
The Patek Philippe Trossi Legenda Chronograph and Carlo Felice Trossi in the 1938 Coppa Ciano
Carlo Felice Trossi was born into an aristocratic Italian family in 1908. With an obvious need for speed, Carlo became a motor car and speedboat racer, while simultaneously being an early pioneer of aviation. He then went on to become the president of Ferrari Scuderia in 1932. The culmination of his motoring career was presented in 1947 and 1948, when he won both the Italian and Swiss Grand Prix.
This yellow gold oversized monopusher Patek Philippe chronograph was produced in 1932 for Carlo Felice Trossi, who was the president of Ferrari Scuderia at the time. The dial included horizontal sub dials, an outer tachymeter scale, and housed a unique 17” ligne movement inside.
Carlo Trossi would have chosen the Legenda Chronograph due to its large diameter – measuring 46 millimeters – and one of the largest wristwatches ever made by Patek Philippe. In later years, aviation watches would be developed to have large diameters, but very few were produced by Patek Philippe themselves. The sizing would have made it a practical timepiece for use in his motor sport, boating, and aviation endeavors.
The Patek Philippe Trossi Legenda Chronograph and Carlo Felice Trossi wearing it / Credit: Sotheby’s
The Trossi Leggenda Patek Philippe was one of the first single button chronograph wristwatches made by Patek Philippe, and one of the earliest with horizontal registers. In the early 1930s, registers were usually displayed vertically on dials, which was the style more commonly found on pocket watches.
He would have used this watch both when racing, and as the team President checking lap times and speeds. This watch is a ‘one off’, made exclusively for Carlo Felice Trossi, and has links to the early Ferrari racing team as well. Patek Philippe didn’t venture too far into the world of large wristwatches, although they did produce a larger timepiece than this, the Grandmaster Chime ref. 5175 at 47.2 mm.
Patek’s Trossi Leggenda is one of the most exceptional chronograph wristwatches ever made by Patek Philippe, and this was recognized when it was bought for 2.25 million CHF at Sotheby’s auction in 2008.
By: Eric Mulder