Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

Geneva, Mar 29, 2009

LOT 138

Half Hunter Patek Philippe & Co., Genève, No. 54588. Sold on January 22, 1885. Very fine and very rare, 18K pink gold half-hunting-cased keyless pocket watch. Accompanied by the original Patek Philippe fitted box, spare crystal and Certificate of Origin.

CHF 5,000 - 7,000

USD 4,300 - 6,000 / EUR 3,400 - 4,700

Sold: CHF 10,200

C. Four-body, bassine, polished, sprung and hinged front cover with glazed aperture, black champleve enamel radial Roman numerals, inner minute track, back cover engraved with a coat of arms below the coronet of a Vicomte. Hinged gold cuvette. D. White enamel with painted radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds dial. Blued steel spade hands. M. 42 mm., 19???, maillechort, 15 jewels, straight-line moustache lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with temperature and meantime adjustment screws, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index arm with Wilmot?s patent cam regulator. Cuvette and movement signed. Diam. 49 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Although the case of this watch is unsigned, the interior of the front cover is punched with the last two digits of the watch number ?88? and the original Certificate of Origin states that the case is engraved with an armorial. This is no doubt that of Henri de Moerner, a Swedish Count, who was the fiancé of the current owner's great-aunt. When World War I broke out, de Moerner volunteered to fight with the French forces, and was killed. His fiancée always kept the watch in remembrance and it has remained in the family ever since.