Patek Philippe & Co., Geneva

A SPLENDID GOLD AND ENAMEL OPEN-FACED WATCH WITH FAUX 'NEPHRITE' ENAMEL BACK 1921, MOVEMENT NO. 199.999, CASE NO. 408.365

Movement: 17''' damascened, lever escapement, 18 jewels, bi-metallic compensation balance, wolf's tooth winding, signed and numbered Patek Philippe & Co. no. 199999
Dial: champagne, Breguet numerals, blued steel moon hands, sunken subsidiary seconds
Case: 18ct gold Murat style, back cover with faux nephrite green background, black, blue and green champlevé enamel bird motif to the centre, the bezel and bow decorated with black champlevé enamel heightened with lapis lazuli roundels and heightened with gold beading and scrolls, signed and numbered Patek Philippe & Co., 408365
diameter 45mm

Provenance:
Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives confirming production in 1921 and sale on 1 October 1929. The Extract further confirms the enamel and lapis decoration to the case and the bird motif to the centre of the case back.

It is interesting to note that the Extract notes the date of sale at the beginning of the month of October in 1929, at the end of the same month the Wall Street Crash would devastatingly strike markets across the world.

A similarly decorated watch with movement no. 803.139 and case number 408.983 was offered at Habsburg Feldman Hong Kong, 29 & 30 May 1989, lot 297.