Swiss 18 carat gold open faced lever with power reserve Circa 1912

Gold lever with power reserve by Patek Philippe & Co.
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A Swiss 18 carat yellow gold open faced keyless winding pocket watch with power reserve (up and down indicator), retailed by Oemisch Co., Rochester, N.Y. (U.S.A.), circa 1912. The watch features a gilded brass ligne movement with 20 jewels and a lever escapement. It has a white enamel dial with Roman numerals, an external railway minute track, a subsidiary seconds dial, a 32 hour power reserve indication (located at 12 o’clock), and blued steel Breguet style hands. The 18 carat yellow gold case has a hinged cuvette back. The maker signs both the cuvette case and dial, and the maker and retailer sign the movement. It comes with the Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives, confirming the date of sale as December 5, 1914.
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Diameter: 45 mm
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Signed: Patek Philippe & Cie Geneva Switzerland
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The case is in good condition given the watch’s age. The edges of the hinged back and cuvette are well-defined, and the numbers and gold marks inside remain clear. Surface scratches and scuffing are visible, particularly the significant scratches on the case back, indicating prior polishing. The crystal glazing also exhibits surface scratches. The dial is generally in very good condition, with the enamel intact, except for a circular scratch near the up/down indicator. The hands have some scratches. The movement is functioning.
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This watch was made for the retailer Henry Oemisch in Rochester, NY, as engraved on the movement. Therefore, we can infer that a very wealthy industrialist in upstate NY bought this as a Christmas gift in 1914. The dial of this watch has Roman numerals and amber enamel, which is different from the usual bright white enamel. The logo layout is exceptionally well-designed, giving the watch an undeniably attractive symmetry. It’s no surprise that it also has a hidden hinge that opens to reveal a dust cover, further opening to present the highly finished 17 lignes calibre.