Swiss gold open faced complicated lever watch Circa 1967

Gold pocket watch with complications 
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A rare Swiss 18 carat gold open faced minute repeating pocket watch with linear perpetual calendar and moon phases made by Patek Philippe in Geneva, circa 1967. Sold on July 26th, 1974. The lever movement with 31 jewels. Silvered dial with raised gold hour indexes, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds combined with moon phases at 6, an aperture for the linear calendar at 12 and dauphine hands. A plain case with a solid snap-on back. Dial signed, case and movement signed and numbered. Comes with an Extract from the Archives.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Signed: Patek Philippe Genève Swiss
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This timepiece was made in 1924, completed in 1962 and encased in 1967.
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The present watch is a Reference 844 was a particularity in the US market when it first appeared in 1965. Bearing a full digital display of the day, month and date held within a single aperture, the dial of this watch is an especially rare Patek Philippe design, as the majority of perpetual calendar pocket watches by Patek Philippe were made with subsidiary dial indications. The ‘single aperture’ dial design enhances the clarity and ease of reading the date display and is of a type more commonly associated with wrist watches. Antoine Gerlach, a Geneva-based case maker designed the triple-stepped bezel and case. With the sharp, clear lines of the case, the overall effect emphasizes the watch’s purpose as a highly accurate timekeeper.
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Patek Philippe produced Reference 844 from 1965 until 2000, when it was only available by special request. Despite this extensive production period, the firm produced an estimated total of only 80 pieces in yellow and white gold.