Swiss 18K yellow gold open faced pocket watch Circa 1880

Gold open faced keyless lever watch
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A fine Swiss 18 carat yellow gold open faced pocket watch made by Pateck in Geneva, circa 1880. It has a mechanical crown winding movement with a straight line lever escapement featuring 15 rubies and is signed Pateck Genève on the inner cover. The white enamelled dial shows black Roman numerals for the hours, an outer minute track with blue Arabic five minute indicators from 5 to 60, a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock, and elegant blued steel filigree hands. The timepiece is housed in a smooth round three body, 18 carat solid yellow gold open faced case with a fluted winding crown, a sturdy round suspension bow, and a solid 18 carat gold inner protective cuvette engraved with the movement details and signed Pateck Genève.
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Diameter: 48 mm
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Weight: 75 g
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Signed: Pateck Genève
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The signature Pateck Genève represents a compelling piece of horological history. Around 1880, Swiss producers like Armand Schwob & Frère created high quality watches under the name Pateck to capitalize on the immense prestige and global reputation of the famous Geneva manufacture Patek Philippe. This practice led to historic trademark lawsuits in the 1880s and 1890s. The high courts ultimately forbade the use of the confusingly similar name, making surviving “Pateck” timepieces fascinating historical artefacts from the era of early Swiss trademark enforcement.