The Reason
A classiclally executed minute repeater with brass, gilded bridges combined with a separate German silver QP module and 5 piece enamel dial. The day is operated independently of the rest of the QP linked together via the upper pinion on the hour wheel.
Please click on the images below to enlarge and to read additional information.
This full hunter, 18k yellow gold pocket watch with enamel dial, perpetual calendar, moon phases and minute repeater was made in 1880 and sold for the first time on April 19th 1881. The calibre measures 20 ligne, approximatively 45mm in diameter. (One French ligne=2.25583mm or roughly 2¼ mm).
Hands, dial and qp module removed showing the repeating mechanism.
The movement number is stamped on to the mainplate 48389, the 4 is obscured by the 4th wheel. The movement is made from brass and then guilded to give the yellow gold effect. In the image below you see the movement removed from the case and viewed from the back. The style of design with separate bars for each wheel was synonymous with both French and Swiss watchmaking as it developed, and differentiated from English, German and American movements which had the majority of wheels covered by a single bridge or plate.
The QP module separated from the movement.
The perpetual calendar module, held in place by 3 screws onto the movement.
The complete dial, enamelled on both sides to assure the tension in the construction are even.
The subsidiary dials are held in place using lead from the back of the principle dials which is melted in place and then the surplace cut away manually.
The presentation box accompanying the pocket watch
The archive certificate from Patek Philippe
To learn more on Patek Phillipe click on www.patek.com
A fully detailed PDF deconstruction is available to be downloaded here.
Watch lent for deconstruction by