Live Auction 1395Important Watches
Patek Philippe. A small, fine and rare 18K gold and enamel openface watch
Lot 239

Patek Philippe. A small, fine and rare 18K gold and enamel openface watch

SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE & CIE, GENÈVE, MOVEMENT NO. 178'325, CASE NO. 281'775, MANUFACTURED IN 1913

Closed13 May 2013

Price Realised

CHF 6,875

Considering selling a similar item?

Discover its value with a complimentary estimate from our specialists.

More Information

How to sell

Patek Philippe. A small, fine and rare 18K gold and enamel openface watch
Signed Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, movement no. 178'325, case no. 281'775, manufactured in 1913
Gilt-finished cal. 12''' mechanical lever movement, 15 jewels, bimetallic compensation balance, wolf's tooth winding, white enamel dial, Breguet numerals, Louis XV hands, outer gilt Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds, small circular case, gold cuvette engraved Tir Cantonal du Centenaire, Genève, Suisse, 1814-1914, bezel and back rim with double white enamel surround, the back with an eccentric polychrome enamel scene depicting a view of Geneva with the lake in the foreground and Mount Salève in the background, framed by an enamel garland of pink roses and the date 1814-1914, case, cuvette, dial and movement signed
32 mm. diam.

Specialist note

With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with enamel dial, as well as an enamel painted landscape on the back, and its subsequent sale on 7 July 1914.

The present watch was made to commemorate the Centenary Shooting Contest in Geneva in 1914. It is one of only 12 such commemorative watches known to have appeared at auction to date.

As recreational shooting events were quite popular in the late 19th century and early 20th century, various watch companies brought out watches to commemorate these events. Patek Philippe was the most prestigious firm among them, bringing out only around 120 such timepieces.

A similar watch from the same series is illustrated in Patek Philippe Pocket Watches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, 1982 edition, page 151.