Patek Philippe & Cie. Half Open-Face Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1876
This Patek Philippe & Cie. half open-face pocket watch, bearing movement and case serial number 52983, was manufactured in 1876 and sold in July 1879. The watch features a sterling silver case constructed with five bodies, a bassine profile, and a polished bezel, band, and back.
It includes an engraved silver cuvette that bears the maker's signature and the serial number. The dial is made of white enamel and displays radial Roman numerals with an outer minute track, accompanied by blued steel spade hands. The movement is a frosted gilt, bar caliber construction featuring 10 jewels, a cylinder escapement, wolf's tooth winding, and a plain three-arm gold balance with a blued steel flat balance spring and an index regulator.
The watch is accompanied by an Extract from the Archives and measures 50 mm in diameter according to the provided documentation.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Half open-face pocket watch
- Maker
- Patek Philippe & Cie.
- Diameter
- 50 mm
- Material
- Sterling silver
- Date of Sale
- July 1879
- Movement Type
- Cylinder escapement
- Serial Number
- 52983
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Case Construction
- Five-body bassine
- Date of Manufacture
- 1876
- Maker / attribution
- Patek Philippe & Cie.
Design
- Case and Dial
- The watch is housed in a sterling silver case designed in a half open-face format. It comprises five bodies with a bassine configuration, featuring a polished bezel, band, and case back. An engraved silver cuvette inside the case serves as a point of signature and identification, displaying both the movement number and the manufacturer's name. The white enamel dial features a layout of radial Roman numerals. It incorporates an outer track for the tracking of minutes. Time is indicated by a set of blued steel spade-shaped hands, consistent with the construction of the timekeeping components documented in the provided notes.
- Visible features
- • Polished silver case • Radial Roman numeral dial • Blued steel spade hands • Bow and crown winding mechanism
- Movement and Escapement
- The movement is a frosted gilt bar caliber. It is designed with 10 jewels and utilizes a cylinder escapement for its timekeeping function. The mechanical arrangement includes a plain three-arm gold balance paired with a blued steel flat balance spring. Operation of the watch is facilitated through a wolf’s tooth winding system, while an index regulator is provided for the adjustment of timekeeping. The auction description notes that the movement is currently in a condition that warrants an overhaul.
- Signatures and Documentation
- The watch is explicitly signed on the silver cuvette, which bears the engraving 'No 52983 Patek Phillipe & Cie.' The serial number 52983 is consistently applied to both the movement and the watch case. Supporting historical records for the object include an Extract from the Archives. The records confirm that while the piece was manufactured in 1876, the final sale occurred in July 1879.
Identification
- Serial number
- 52983
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The auction description reports the movement requires an overhaul
- Research required: Condition reports indicate the case has slight scratches