Beschreibung
A rare 19th Century collectors Ladies 26mm (without bale) early Patek & Cie 18 carat gold and enamel fob watch circa 1846. The Patek & Cie ( Patek Philippe ) watch having a white enamel face having radial Roman numerals to the dial with gold Breguet hands. The case verso having hand painted enamel ‘Lake of Geneva’ scene with foliate scrolled enamel decoration. The case opening to reveal a chase decorated interior with engraved inscription Patek & Cie Genève No 1716. Cylindre Quatre Rubis. Inner and outer case stamped 1716. Weight approx 12.3g. Measures 35mm including bale. The watch is accompanied with its original presentation box signed ‘Margaret De Castro Langford Lodge Whetstone N’. ** BUYER BEWARE** The watch runs, adjusts and winds correctly however does require professional attention as it’s gaining 10-15 minutes per day. Furthermore the enamel dial has been previously damaged with a noticeable repair at ‘3’ o clock, please observe photographs. This is a wonderful opportunity to purchase this Patek & Cie Geneve ‘No 1716’ engraved 18k yellow gold cased key-wound watch. This is an early Patek, offering a great opportunity for the Patek Philippe collecting community. This beautiful time piece is now over 150 years old. Antoine Norbert de Patek had developed his business and hired Adrien Philippe in 1844 as technical director and Philippe was slowly implementing his keyless winding system into the young company’s production. In 1851 the company was renamed ‘Patek, Philippe & Co’. Here we have a watch from a pivotal, time in the company’s history that represents Patek & Cie’s earliest client base, a special-order accommodation, and it is wound with a key. During the early days in the mid 1840s to the 1850’s, Mr. Patek focused on selling to his nobleman friends, and accepted special requests of engravings, presentation inscriptions and enamelling such as seen here. It is highly likely that Mr. Patek personally accepted this order and possibly hand delivered the watch to the buyer. Housed in a three piece hinged case bearing beautiful ‘Lake of Geneva’ enamelling to the back case. Enamel dial has applied Roman numerals, chapter ring and gold spade and whip hands with a 4 rubies gilt cylinder movement numbered 1716 under the dial matching the case numbers. As one of the world's oldest watchmaker, Patek Philippe in certain sets the bar for what constitutes a world-class timepiece. Prized by royalty, heads of state, and prominent public figures, their timepieces rank in the top teir of the most exclusive and expensive in the world. Patek Philippe are one of the oldest continuously operating watchmakers, with production extending all the way back to the mid eighteenth century. It is considered part of the Holy Trinity of Swiss watchmaking, with Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin. The brand has always maintained its uncompromising pursuit of perfection on the inside and out of every timepiece to be released over the past 184 years. Patek Philippe has established itself globally, becoming highly regarded in both watch collecting circles and high society. Acclaimed for their superior skill with design and quality they have created timepieces for nobles, Royalty and celebrities. The elite Swiss firm Patek Philippe has had as it's motto You never actually own a Patek Philippe”. You merely look after it for the next generation. The slogan was introduced when the company launched its Generations campaign in 1996. Original Enamel Dial: Unsigned, was an option during the period this piece was made. White enamel Roman numerals dial, chapter ring with minute markers and five minute indexes, gold spade and whip Breguet hands in good condition. The dial has been previously damaged repaired at ‘3’ o clock please observe photographs. Original Crystal: In good condition for age. Original Solid Gold Case: Polished solid gold 18 carat coin edged stepped case measuring 26mm without bale. Has surface hairline scratches associated with polished precious metals commensurate with age and wear. Hinges and case are in good condition overall. There are no deep scratches. All covers pop and click correctly without any issues. Original Case Back Cover Rear Outer: The case verso having hand painted enamel appears to be ‘Lake of Geneva’ scene with foliate scrolled enamel decoration. Has surface hairline scratches commensurate with age and wear with some distress to the left side foliate scroll. Overall good condition for age. No deep scratches, hinges are in good condition. Please observe photos. Original Case Back Cover Rear Inner: 18 carat gold numbered 1716. In good condition overall. Has some hairline surface scratches commensurate with age and wear associated with precious metals, hinges are in good condition. Original Case Back Cover Movement Outer: 18 carat solid gold. The case opening to reveal a chase decorated interior with engraved inscription Patek & Cie Genève No 1716. Cylindre Quatre Rubis. Key holes for time change and winding in good working order. The key is in good condition. Case cover has surface hairline scratches commensurate with age and wear associated with precious metals, hinges are in good condition. Original Case Back Cover Movement Inner: Stamped 1716. Key holes for time change and winding in good order. Case cover has surface hairline scratches commensurate with age and wear associated with precious metals, hinges are in good condition. Original Movement: Unsigned numbered 1716 under the dial matching the numbers of the case. 4 jewelled gilt cylinder movement requires professional attention as it’s running very fast. No issues with winding or ticking. Original Presentation Box: Signed; ‘Margaret De Castro Langford Lodge Whetstone N’. In good to average condition for the age however does have some tarnishing to the base and imperfections. * Please observe photographs carefully as they form part of the description* Please note this Patek is over 150 years old. Shipping DHL insured registered post World wide. Buyer is responsible for any taxes or duties due which may delay or hold up your shipment at the destination port. For further historical context, please see below a brief except from Patek Philippe in America that captures the era in which this watch was made, the time that Patek watchmaking company was envisioned by its founder to be based in Poland and not Geneva! Before founding the company in 1839, Antoine Norbert de Patek (1812-1877) was a military officer who fought for Poland’s freedom from the Russians. After three years in the military, for which he was awarded the Polish military gold cross, he settled in Geneva in 1833 for what was intended to be a brief stay. His artistic pursuits led him to study under the famous Swiss painter Alexander Calame, under whose tutelage he refined his skills as a landscape painter. As early as 1835, perhaps as a side business to fund his studies, Patek bought watch movements and cases and sold them to his Polish friends. He soon realized his relationship with the Polish aristocracy was a lucrative opportunity for him to start a watch business to service this affluent clientele. After Patek founded the company in 1839, together with his first partner Francois Czapek, his goal was to develop a successful watchmaking company in Geneva and eventually move the watchmaking firm to Poland once the political situation in Poland was stabilized. In a letter written in 1843 from Patek to a member of the Polish royal family named Princess Czartoryska, Patek referred to his newly founded watchmaking company as Poland’s “national manufacture, where we try to gather Polish workers… to bring back to our devastated Motherland this important branch of industry.” When Czapek left the firm in 1845 due to numerous disagreements with his partner, Patek faced a challenge to continue building the company and developing new venues to sell his watches. Czapek quickly built a rival watchmaking firm that aggressively lured away many of Patek’s Polish customers, forcing Patek to look for other markets in which to sell his watches. Jean-Adrien Philippe (1815-1894), an inventive French watchmaker, first came to Patek’s attention in Paris after Philippe won a gold medal at the French Industrial Exposition in 1844. Patek was at the fair to promote his brand while on the lookout for new ideas, and possibly a new partner. During the Paris fair, Philippe presented a new patent for a keyless stem winding and setting system that marked a great improvement over previous technologies. The new patent cleared the way for the successful production of pocket watches that enabled the wearer to wind and set the movement without a key, a system that kept the watch cleaner and more accurate. Patek saw an opportunity in partnering with Philippe and offered him a position within the firm as technical director in 1845. At the same time, Patek also took on a third partner, a lawyer named Vincent Gostkowski (1807-1884), and the company was renamed Patek & Cie. Although Philippe was a partner in 1845, it was not until 1851 that Patek & Cie.’s name was formally changed to Patek, Philippe & Cie. and both men’s names appeared on the company’s watch dials. Philippe remained with the firm as both partner and technical director until his death in 1894. Philippe’s contributions to the company represent an endless list of technical developments, patents, and innovations. With the addition of Philippe to the firm in 1845, Patek & Co. was no longer a Polish company working in Geneva. It became an international firm headed by a marketing genius, Patek, and one of the best watchmakers in the world, Philippe. The company quickly established relationships with some of the best retailers in Europe and even established business contacts in Russia, Poland’s former enemy during Patek’s time in the military.
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