Small Swiss 18 carat gold open faced repoussé watch Circa 1893

Gold lever ladies’ watch  
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A small and remarkable Swiss 18 carat gold open faced manual wind pocket watch made by Patek Philippe in Geneva, circa 1893. The bridge movement with a lever escapement and gold screw compensation balance.

Gilt ornamented dial with blue Roman hours in white enamel cartouches, outer blue minute divisions on a white enamel chapter ring and blued hands. The case back with a repoussé scene showing St. George and the Dragon based on the Georgstaler, a medal that was first coined in 1521 and carries the motto S. Georgius Equitum Patronus (St. George patron saint of horsemen), on the inside of the reverse a biblical motif from Mark 4:35 showing the sleeping Christ with his disciples on a stormy sea as the back of the medal traditionally was decorated in the 17th century, the motto on the front bezel reads In tempestate securitas (safety in a storm), the motto on the outer back border S. Georgius Equitum Patronus.

Case numbered, movement signed and numbered. Comes with an Extract from the Archives and an leather strap.
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Diameter: 32 mm
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Signed: Patek, Philippe & Cie Genève
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The Georgstaler is a thaler coin the Counts of Mansfeld have been minting since 1521 and which shows the patron Saint of their house, Saint George. The coins were thought to lend protection to horsemen and soldiers and were highly coveted. Soon enough other mints began producing their own versions of the amulet and eventually the charms would even be fashioned as pendants from all kinds of metal.