Unique Swiss lever with chased ‘chasse a courre’ scene Circa 1971

Gold hunting cased lever watch 
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A fine and unique Swiss 18 carat gold hunting cased lever pocket watch, circa 1971. Chasse à courre (hunting with hounds). Sold on June 29th, 1971. Nickel lever movement, stamped twice with the seal of Geneva, mono-metallic compensation balance, 18 jewels, micrometre regulator, adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and five positions. White enamel dial, applied yellow gold Breguet numerals and Breguet hands. Chased circular case, on the front a hunting scene with three hunters on horseback in full dress and seven hounds all within a forest, the scene on the reverse depicting three hunters on horseback with four hounds. Case, dial and movement signed. Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives.
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Diameter: 48 mm
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Signed: Patek Philippe Genève Swiss
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Each piece belonging to Reference 865 is unique and assigned its own variation number, as in the present example’s designation as Ref. 865-1. It is thus the first known of this type, with later examples known up to about Ref. 865-219. This basic case acted as a blank canvas and could incorporate decorative variations at the customer’s request such as cloisonné enamel portraits and scenes, chasing or relief scenes. The exquisite detail of the ‘chasse à courre’ hunting scene is quite impressive considering the relatively small size of the piece. Examples of other watches bearing relief scenes can be found in M. Huber & A. Banbery, Patek Philippe Watches, Second Edition, p. 166.