Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 10, 2013

LOT 181

PATEK & CO - VERY EARLY PATENT KEYLESS WINDING - `THE BLACK MADONNA OF OSTRABRAMA` Patek & Co. à Genève, No. 3209. Made in 1848, sold on November 7th, 1854. Very fine and extremely rare, 18K gold, enamel and diamond-set lady's pendant watch with Adrien Philippe's first patented stem-wind and hand-setting mechanism of 1845 without coasting. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

CHF 15,000 - 25,000

HKD 125,000 - 205,000 / USD 16,000 - 26,500

Sold: CHF 30,000

Four-body, "bassine", bezel, band, pendant and bow engraved with foliage, back cover decorated with a rose cut diamond-set flower spray on a translucent red guilloche enamel ground, flat-topped winding crown. Hinged gold cuvette decorated with a finely enameled and engraved gold icon the `Black Madonna of Ostrabrama` flanked by engraved angels and foliage. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track. Blued steel Breguet hands. 13''', frosted gilt, bar caliber, 8 jewels, wolf's tooth winding, cylinder escapement, plain three-arm balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator. Movement signed, cuvette and case numbered.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

DIAM. 34.5 mm. This watch is an extremely early example of Adrien Philippe's first patent stem-wind and hand-setting mechanism of 1845 and is in very good condition. The extract from the archives confirms the red guilloche enamel and diamond decoration of the case, furthermore the beautifully decorated cuvette is also mentioned as `painted portrait of the Black Madonna of Ostrabrama`. The movement is signed Patek & Co., a signature used only for six years between 1845 and 1851 when the company became Patek Philippe & Co. This mechanism was registered under French patent No. 1317 of April 22, 1845. The winding pinion is fixed to the winding shaft. For winding the crown it must be turned clockwise and cannot be turned back with that typical ratchet noise. To disengage the winding in order to set the hands, the winding crown can be pulled out. Very few watches survive with this early winding mechanism without coasting. The shrine of Ostrabrama is in the town of Vilnius in Lithuania and houses the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary which has been copied in enamel on the cuvette of this watch.