Live Auction 1417Rare Watches Including Nautilus 40 Part II
Patek Philippe. A very fine, rare and unusual 18K gold openface keyless lever chronograph watch with repoussé case
Lot 206

Patek Philippe. A very fine, rare and unusual 18K gold openface keyless lever chronograph watch with repoussé case

Signed Patek Philippe & Co., Geneva, made for W.A. Marean, movement no. 80'853, case no. 223'643, manufactured in 1890

Closed14 November 2016

Price Realised

CHF 21,250

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Patek Philippe. A very fine, rare and unusual 18K gold openface keyless lever chronograph watch with repoussé case
Signed Patek Philippe & Co., Geneva, made for W.A. Marean, movement no. 80'853, case no. 223'643, manufactured in 1890
MOVEMENT: manual, cal. 16'''
DIAL: chased silver gilt chased, blue Roman numerals on white enamel cartouches, outer Arabic five minute divisions on white enamel chapter ring, raised scroll and foliage decorated centre, pink gold Louis XV hands
CASE: 18K gold, hinged satined gold cuvette, finely chased and engraved scroll and floral decorated bezel and band, the back centred by a chased and embossed scene depicting Hercules and Omphale in high relief, chronograph button in the band, 45 mm. diam.
SIGNED: case, cuvette and movement signed, movement further signed “Made for W.A. Marean”
ACCOMPANIED BY: Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1890 and its subsequent sale on 17 November 1890.

Specialist note

To the best of our knowledge, this watch is the so far only example of a Patek Philippe Louis XV style repoussé case with "Hercules" decoration and chronograph function, a highly unusual combination, known to have appeared in public to date.

According to the Extract it was sold with a half open-face bassine case, silver dial and a back cover without embossed ornaments. The firm’s workbooks however record a "rhabillage" or "repair/servicing" to the case in 1899 without stating any details; it can therefore safely be assumed that this intervention refers to the exchange of the back cover against the present one as well as the dial which had to match the renaissance style of the case.

Such Renaissance style cases were often designed by Georges Hantz, director of the Decorative Arts Museum in Geneva and renowned for his chased and engraved watch cases and moulds for embossing cases and stamping coins or medals.

Similarly decorated dials are illustrated in Patek Philippe Pocket Watches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 133 & 141, pl. 63a & 75a.