Swiss lever with portrait of Queen Draga of Serbia Circa 1896

Gold open faced lever by Patek Philippe
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A very fine, rare Swiss 18 carat gold open faced keyless lever pocket watch with enamel portrait of Queen Draga of Serbia (1861-1903) by M. Zasche, circa 1896. Sold on August 20, 1898. Frosted gilt movement, bridge caliber, 17 jewels, wolf’s tooth winding with Patek Philippe patent No. 1016 winding system of 1889, straight-line moustache lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring with terminal curve, Wilmot’s patented micrometer cam regulator. Gold hinged cuvette. White enamel dial with Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds and original blued steel spade hands. Polished case, the back cover decorated with a painted on enamel portrait of Queen Draga Masin of Serbia. Dial, cuvette and movement signed, case and movement numbered. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Signed: Patek, Philippe & Cie Genève
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Patek Philippe’s Swiss patent No. 1016 for winding was registered on May 23, 1889. This system refers to the pull out handsetting and winding, both with the crown.
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Draga Masin (Nee Lunjevica) also known as Queen Draga, was the consort of King Aleksandar Obrenovic. She was formerly a lady-in-waiting to Aleksandar’s mother Queen Natalija. Draga Masin was a daughter of Panta Lunjevica, local leader of the Arandelovac area. At the time of her second marriage, she was the widow of Svetozar Masin, a Czech civil engineer, and was fifteen years older than Aleksandar. They married on August 5, 1900. When Aleksandar announced their engagement, public opinion turned against him. He was viewed as a besotted young fool in the power of a wicked seductress. Dowager Queen Natalija bitterly opposed the marriage and was exiled by her son in part because of it. His many arbitrary and unpopular acts were blamed on Draga’s influence. There were rumors that Aleksandar would name Draga’s brother heir to the throne. This last threat was the final straw. On June 11, 1903, a group of army officers invaded the royal palace, led by the brother of Draga’s late husband. They found Aleksandar and Draga hiding in a cupboard and savagely murdered them, throwing their mutilated bodies from a palace window.