Swiss rose gold split-seconds chronograph Circa 1881

Chronometer quality Special watch by Patek Philippe
–
A very rare Swiss 18 carat rose gold open faced split-seconds chronograph with regulator dial and chronometer quality Special, circa 1881. Ankerchronometer of quality Special, Geneva striping decoration, extremely rare split-seconds chronograph including a regulator dial. Cuvette with two dedications John Tucker Jr 1883 and Russel E. Tucker 1888. White enamel dial with red minutes and 1/5 seconds register and blued steel hands. Special plain case with three hinged lids like a hunting case watch, but with a view to the dial. Case numbered, dial signed and numbered, case and movement with matching numbers. Comes with a copy of the Extract from the Archives.
–
Diameter: 52.5 mm
–
Weight: 142 g
–
Signed: Bailey, Banks & Biddle Philadelphia
–
Only five more of these Patek Philippe split-seconds chronographs in exactly this technical design are known and two more in a slightly modified construction. All these eight watches were made for the American market, at least two of them for Tiffany and two for Bailey, Banks & Biddle, five of the watches as open faced watches, three with hunting cases. Only three of the watches, namely this piece No. 48481, No. 65409 and No. 90315 were made in rose gold, the other five watches in yellow gold. Only two of the watches have the special case with three hinged lids, the present watch and the 90315. It is also noteworthy that Patek Philippe used movements in the ankerchronometer quality Special for these watches. The Special and Extra quality marking was used exclusively to indicate the highest quality chronometers.