Exceptionally rare Swiss triple cased cabriolet watch Circa 1885

Gold and enamel convertible lever watch by Patek Philippe
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An exceptionally rare and very fine Swiss 18 Carat gold and enamel triple cased cabriolet pendant watch, circa 1885. Sold to Jaques & Marcus, New York, U.S.A. on September 15th, 1886, for 475 SFr.
Rose gold outer case with a large lateral hinge, the middle case is also gold with a hand painted polychrome enamelled backside showing a pastoral scene and the rose gold inner case with a polished band and glazed back. White enamel dial, the centre with hand painted blue Roman hours, red Arabic five-minute numerals against a rose-coloured ground, a painted polychrome enamel scene of a girl and a landscape in the centre and gold Louis XVI hands. Signed nickel-silver bridge movement with Geneva striping decoration, 18 jewels, wolf teeth winding wheels, counterpoised moustache lever, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with gold temperature and mean-time adjustment screws, blued steel balance spring.
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Diameter: 36 mm
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Weight: 48 g
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Signed: Patek, Philippe & Cie Genève
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A similar convertible (cabriolet) pocket watch (movement No. 74861) by Patek Philippe was sold for € 85.100. Both triple-cased pendant watches with enamel paintings were sold to Jaques & Marcus in New York on September 15th, 1886. The watch is spectacular, not only the back but also the dial is entirely hand painted including the numerals and the minute track. The hand strokes of the painter are visible in the minute markers, as well as in the finish of the numerals. The case is constructed in such a way that it can be either an open face showing the dial or a hunting case showing the enamel. It is also one of only two known triple-cased Patek Philippe watches. Patek Philippe already began enamelling their cases in 1839, the first year of the production. The tradition continued to the modern days. In the 1970s and 1980s, the enamel work by such artists as Suzanne Rohr or Luce Chappaz decorated a few special Patek Philippe pocket watches. The highest degree of perfection of Patek Philippe enamels falls in the 1880s. This period, a century later, inspired the company to launch a limited series of modern enamel watches such as the famous reference 866.