Patek Philippe Seconde Morte pocket watch no. 27271
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1868
Maker / issuer
Patek PhilippeThis 18K gold pocket watch, serial number 27271, is part of an experimental series of Seconde Morte watches produced by Patek Philippe around 1868. The timepiece features an independent seconds complication powered by two separate mainspring barrels, allowing for the stop and start of the center seconds hand.
The watch is housed in a 56 mm 18K gold 'à-goutte' case, which features an engraved monogram 'NE' on the back cover and is stamped with the Patek Philippe hallmark. It is reported to be in functional condition and retains original components, including the case and movement matching the serial number 27271.
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
- Independent seconds pocket watch
- Maker
- Patek Philippe
- Case Diameter
- 56 mm
- Case Material
- 18K Gold
- Movement Type
- Lever escapement with two barrels
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Manufacturing Date
- 1868
- Maker / attribution
- Patek Philippe
- Archival Documentation
- Extract from the Archives dated 2022
Design
- Case and Dial
- The watch is encased in an 18K gold 'à-goutte' housing measuring 56 mm in diameter. The outer case back is engraved with the monogram 'NE', and the case interior bears the Patek Philippe hallmark and the serial number 27271. The dial is crafted from enamel and features Roman numerals for the hour markers. The time and seconds are indicated by blued steel hands.
- Visible features
- • Case diameter is 56 mm with 'à-goutte' design • Features independent seconds function operated by an olive-shaped pusher • Back cover engraved with the monogram 'NE' • Equipped with an enamel dial and blued steel hands
- Movement and Complication
- The watch is powered by a specialized 20-ligne caliber featuring a lever escapement. A defining technical feature of this movement is its configuration with two independent mainspring barrels. This architecture supports the 'Seconde Morte' (deadbeat or independent seconds) complication, which allows the center seconds hand to be independently started and stopped by the wearer. The mechanism is controlled by a pusher set into the case olive, which operates the starting and stopping functions of the independent seconds hand. According to the accompanying archival records, this specific movement is numbered 27271, matching the case number.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The object is accompanied by an extract from the Patek Philippe archives dated September 15, 2022. This document confirms the watch's identity as a pocket watch from 1868 with an independent seconds complication. The archival extract states that the movement and case numbers are both 27271 and confirms the original specifications of the piece. The documentation serves to verify the authenticity and historical context of this watch as one of the experimental pieces produced by the firm in the late 1860s.
Identification
- Serial number
- 27271
- 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 exact accuracy of the watch has not been tested
- Research required: The total number of surviving experimental pieces is stated to be a maximum of five, based on manufacturer archives