Lot 374

Swiss, Case No. 221, 49 mm, 92 g, circa 1855
A gold hunting case pocket watch with second time zone and independent jumping centre seconds "Seconde Morte"
Case: 18k gold, engraved monogram and crest, case maker's punch mark "PF". Dial: enamel. Movm.: bridge movement, screw compensation balance.
At the time when this pocket watch was produced, Patek Philippe had already gained an excellent reputation and thus become a target for counterfeiters. While the watch bears the Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève signature on the dial, it was by no means made by the brand; it is, however, a high-quality timepiece with remarkable complications such as the second time zone and the dead centre seconds. The 18K gold case decorated with emblem and monogram is also exquisitely finished with engine turned pattern in excellent condition.
As early as in the 1870s, Adrien Philippe wrote the following about the forgeries of the clocks: Moreover, in general, the pompous inscriptions, more or less adorned with arabesques, have no other purpose than to seduce the eyes in order to better mislead the buyer.
Source: Philip Poniz, New York

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