Swiss miniature half hunter cylinder watch Circa 1889

Gold half hunter by Patek Philippe
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A Swiss 18 carat rose gold miniature half hunting cased keyless pocket watch, circa 1889. Cal. 7”’ gilt revolver LeCoultre cylinder movement. Signed and numbered gold cuvette. White enamel dial, Roman numerals, outer minute track and blued steel hands. Polished miniature case, aperture to the cover with radial black enamel Roman numerals and minute track, case back with engraved monogram. Case, dial and movement signed. Accompanied by an extract from the archives confirming sale on July 31st 1890.
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Diameter: 22.5 mm
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Signed: Patek Philippe & Co Genève
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This watch bears a movement that belongs to a special range of numbers used by Patek Philippe only for complicated watches. Today considered as a standard size for ladies mechanical wristwatches, the caliber 7”’ so called ‘miniature’ was considered in the 1920’s to be technically advanced and highly desirable and was referred as a complicated timepiece. About 65 ‘miniature’ wristwatches are identified today for probably just a few 100 made overall. A similar calibre is illustrated in M. Huber & A. Banbery, Patek Philippe Wristwatches, 1987 edition, p 29.