Swiss 18K rose gold five minute repeating lever watch Circa 1893

Rose gold repeater by Patek Philippe & Co.
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A fine Swiss gold open faced five minute repeating keyless lever watch, circa 1893. Damascened nickel movement featuring wolf’s tooth winding, lever escapement, gold train, jewelled centre, bimetallic compensation balance, and a barrel bridge signed and numbered Patek Philippe & Cie., Genève, with a serial number. White enamel dial with Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring, filigree hands, and sunken subsidiary seconds. The watch case is made of 18 carat gold with a polished back featuring blue guilloché enamel displaying the monogram of King Ferdinand I of Bulgaria. The monogram is in the form of a letter F in Cyrillic, beneath a prince’s crown. The polished gold cuvette is signed and numbered by Patek Philippe & Cie., Genève, with the case back and cuvette further numbered and stamped with PP and Calatrava cross marks.
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The box is covered in leather, and the lid has a silver crown applied to it, matching King Ferdinand’s monogram. The watch case has an enamelled lid, and the silk lining inside the lid is signed by Patek, Philippe & Cie., Genève. It also has a Grand Prix d’Honneur Paris 1889 award. The Certificate of Origin and instructions for use are hidden behind the lining of the lid. The interior is lined with velvet and has spare glass. It includes a certificate of origin, the original presentation case, and documentation. Both the watch and presentation case feature the royal monogram of King Ferdinand I of Bulgaria from 1893.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Weight: 109 g
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Signed: Patek Philippe & Cie., Genève
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The movement runs and repeats, but the hands will not advance past a quarter past the hour. They can be moved backwards, and the repeating is in sync, but it will need attention. There are a few small scratches on the surfaces. The dial has a hairline crack running between 11 and 12 o’clock to the centre, and a further hairline running from the centre to the subsidiary seconds dial. The case has an emblem beneath the crown with a chip to the upper right side and a couple of further minor chips to the left side of the emblem. Otherwise, the case is in generally good condition.
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Accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Origin dated June 30, 1896, handwritten documentation, and an extract from the Archives confirming production in 1893 and sale on June 30, 1896. The extract also confirms the presence of the blue enamel ‘F’ in Cyrillic on the case back and the prince’s crown.
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Ferdinand I, also known as ‘Foxy Ferdie’, became the Prince Regnant of Bulgaria in 1887 and assumed the throne in 1908. He abdicated in 1918. Born in Vienna to Prince August of Saxe-Coburg and his wife Clémentine d’Orléans, Ferdinand was destined to pursue an independent European throne, following in the footsteps of many of his family members. Although not the first choice, he was chosen by the Bulgarians to prevent the Russian occupation of their country. Despite initial doubts within his family, his first twenty years in power were generally successful. However, the Balkan and First World Wars brought significant political changes to the region, leading Ferdinand to abdicate in favour of his son Boris in 1918. He then retired to the family estates in Coburg.