Swiss repeating astronomical watch with chronograph Circa 1887

Gold repeating perpetual calendar watch by Patek Philippe & Co.
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A rare Swiss pink gold minute repeating keyless lever perpetual calendar split seconds chronograph watch featuring moon phases, circa 1887, retailed by Bailey, Banks & Biddle in Philadelphia. This watch features a 19”’ damascened ¾ plate movement, engraved with Special. It has a lever escapement, a bimetallic compensation balance, a chronograph mechanism that is partially visible through the backplate, a swanneck precision regulation, and a repeating function on coiled gongs. It is signed Bailey, Banks & Biddle, Philadelphia. The dial is white enamel with black Roman numerals and four subsidiary dials. These include a day indicator, a date indicator in red combined with subsidiary seconds, and a moon phase indicator with an aperture for moon phases. All hands are made of blued steel, and the dial is also signed Bailey, Banks & Biddle, Philadelphia.
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The case is made of 18 carat pink gold and has a bassine form. It features a repeating slide, a chronograph locking slide on the band, and small recessed pushers on the band for adjusting the moon phases to the right of the 12 o’clock position, as well as the day and date indicator beneath the 6 o’clock position. The hinged back is engraved with the monogram SAC Jr. and is signed and numbered P.P.Co. for Patek Philippe. It also includes a polished gold cuvette signed and numbered Bailey, Banks & Biddle, Philadelphia. The Extract from the Archives verifies that this watch was produced in 1887 and sold on 30 September of the same year. It also confirms the monogram on the case back: S.A.C. Jr.
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Diameter: 54 mm
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Signed: Patek Philippe / Bailey, Banks & Biddle, Philadelphia
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The movement is not functioning. The chronograph reset and repeat features are not working. It would benefit from a service, which will be at the buyer’s expense. The dial has hairline cracks in the centre and small scratches, particularly on the subsidiary dials. Additionally, the subsidiary date dial shows some hairline cracks. There is a hairline crack extending from the centre to the month calendar and another crack from the centre to the moon phases.
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As Patek Philippe gained recognition in America, the company forged unique relationships with high end retailers across the country. They created custom dials and movements featuring the name and location of each retailer, as illustrated in the current lot.
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Bailey, Banks, and Biddle was a prestigious and renowned jewellery retailer established in Philadelphia in 1832. The United States government once commissioned the company to update the Great Seal of the United States, which is still in use today, and to design a series of important honorary military medals.