Fine Swiss gold lever with up-and-down indication Circa 1913

Historically interesting open faced lever by Patek Philippe
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A fine and historically interesting Swiss gold open faced keyless lever chronometer watch with up-and down indication, circa 1913. Nickel finished Extra lever movement stamped twice with the Geneva seal, 28 jewels, Guillaume balance, micrometer regulator, wolf’s tooth winding. Gold cuvette. White enamel dial, Breguet numerals, subsidiary seconds, up-and-down indication. Polished case, engraved coat of arms and motto Esse Quam Videri to the reverse, hidden hinge. Case, cuvette, dial and movement signed and numbered.
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Diameter: 50 mm
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Signed: Patek, Philippe & Cie Switzerland
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In 1844 Patek met the French watchmaker Jean-Adrien Philippe, who demonstrated his new invention: the first watch without a wind-up key. Patek and Philippe decided to work together from 1845 and in 1851 their company Patek Philippe and Cie was founded. In 1901 the name was officially Ancienne Manufacture d’Horlogerie Patek Philippe and Cie, S.A.
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The company has 70 patents and produces the entire clockwork in-house.
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Patek Philippe (1839), together with Audemars Piguet (1875), Vacheron Constantin (1755) and A. Lange und Sohne (1845), is considered to be “the big four” in the watchmaking world. The very luxurious timepieces are of high quality and therefore often raise record amounts at auctions. A pocket watch produced in 1933 was sold for 11 million in 1999 at an auction of Sotheby’s. A world record at that time. On 11 November 2014 it was auctioned again and this time it was sold for 19 million euros.