Swiss 18K yellow gold full hunter pocket watch Circa 1900

Gold hunting cased keyless lever chronometer watch
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A fine Swiss 18 carat yellow gold full hunter pocket watch made by Pateck & Co., circa 1900. It features a mechanical crown winding lever chronometer movement with lever escapement, signed Pateck & Co. The ornate silvered dial is decorated with applied gold floral scrollwork. It has black Roman numerals for the hours on a silvered chapter ring, fine outer minute dots, a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock, and blued steel hands. The timepiece is housed in a heavy, round 18 carat solid yellow gold full hunter case, deeply embossed and chased in high relief with a lion’s head, birds, and intricate floral motifs. It features a fluted winding crown, a sturdy round suspension bow, and a solid 18 carat gold inner protective cuvette.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Weight: 138 g
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Signed: Pateck & Co.
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Pateck & Co. and Patek Philippe are two entirely different entities in horological history. Patek Philippe is a legitimate luxury manufacturer from Geneva. Pateck & Co. was established in the late nineteenth century by the Schwob brothers to capitalize on that success. By adding a ‘c’ to the name, they attempted to mislead consumers. This led to a landmark lawsuit that Patek Philippe won in 1890. Although Pateck watches lack the supreme mechanical complexity of authentic Patek Philippes, their notorious history of early counterfeiting makes them highly sought after curiosities among collectors today.
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Historically speaking, this Pateck & Co. pocket watch is an interesting object. It is a beautifully preserved witness to the early fight against counterfeiting in watchmaking. Although originally made to mislead buyers, today it is a highly sought after curiosity among collectors because of this notorious history.