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Watchmaker profile

Max Berney

Max Berney modified Alan Banbery's Patek Philippe reference 3448 movement to replace its moon-phase display with a leap-year indication in 1975. 12

The dial alteration belongs to Stern Frères. The watch's gift/commission story is disputed; mechanism attribution is separately documented.

At a glance

The watchmaking story

Useful places to start with Max Berney's work include Banbery ref. 3448 and modified calibre 27-460 Q. 1

Max Berney designed, developed or supplied work for Patek Philippe. 123

Scope: Direct watchmaking

Why this person is included

Documented attributable craft or technical contribution

Background and working context

Affiliations and workshops: Patek Philippe 1

Geographic ties: Switzerland. Documented workplace / industry location

Brands, workshops, and other relationships

  1. Watch brand / watchmaking business · Inherited source-linked record; relationship classification reviewed, sources not reopened

    Patek Philippe — Designed / developed / supplied for. 1975 modification of Banbery ref. 3448, calibre 27-460 Q 123

    Legacy affiliation: Patek Philippe. Person-level contribution: Modified Alan Banbery's Patek Philippe reference 3448 movement to replace its moon-phase display with a leap-year indication in 1975.

    Original affiliation wording: Patek Philippe. No present-day employment or ownership inferred.

Evidence and limitations

This dossier connects 6 field-specific evidence records with 3 public sources. Known links only; full career not established

Claim qualifications (6)
  • Full name: Examined-object catalogue and described archive extract; extract facsimiles were not independently transcribed. 1
  • Affiliations / workshops: Examined-object catalogue and described archive extract; extract facsimiles were not independently transcribed. 1
  • Noteworthy contribution: Examined-object catalogue and described archive extract; extract facsimiles were not independently transcribed. 1
  • Representative work: Examined-object catalogue and described archive extract; extract facsimiles were not independently transcribed. 1
  • Specific role: Examined-object catalogue and described archive extract; extract facsimiles were not independently transcribed. 1
  • Noteworthy contribution: Retrospective firsthand recollection. Neither account resolves the gift/personal-project discrepancy. 2

Sources

  1. Patek Philippe ref. 3448 'Alan Banbery' — lot 6320105Christie’s · Auction object catalogue · 2021 (sale year identified by linked account); exact page date not stated

    [S0317] Christie’s. "Patek Philippe ref. 3448 'Alan Banbery' — lot 6320105." 2021 (sale year identified by linked account); exact page date not stated. https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6320105 Accessed 2026-09-13. Locator: Details: movement and accompanying 1999/2020 extracts; Lot Essay: conversion work.

    Source context

    Relationship to subject: Auction house's examined-object description with cited archive extracts

    How it was checked: Opened and text inspected. Locator: Details: movement and accompanying 1999/2020 extracts; Lot Essay: conversion work

    Limitation: Catalogue describes Max Berney's 1975 conversion and cites archive extracts not independently read in full here. Presentation/gift narrative conflicts with Banbery's 2026 recollection; that narrative is not adopted.

  2. The Banbery Chronicles Part II — Inside Patek Philippe: Sales, Design, and the Banbery TouchTania Edwards · Collectability · Original interview · 2026-01-08

    [S0305] Tania Edwards. Collectability. "The Banbery Chronicles Part II — Inside Patek Philippe: Sales, Design, and the Banbery Touch." 2026-01-08. https://collectability.com/learn/the-banbery-chronicles-part-ii-inside-patek-philippe-sales-design-and-the-banbery-touch/ Accessed 2026-09-13. Locator: Caliber 89; Star Caliber 2000; The Banbery watch ref. 3448; book authorship.

    Source context

    Relationship to subject: First-person recollection published by a specialist dealer

    How it was checked: Opened and text inspected. Locator: Caliber 89; Star Caliber 2000; The Banbery watch ref. 3448; book authorship

    Limitation: Retrospective participant account. Separates concept requests, mechanism work, case craft and engraving. Not sole-inventor evidence.

  3. https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6320105 https://collectability.com/learn/the-banbery-chronicles-part-ii-inside-patek-philippe-sales-design-and-the-banbery-touch/linked source

Corrections and stronger evidence

Names, dates, and workshop relationships can change as archives are digitised. If you have a primary source that clarifies this record, use the correction process.

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