Swiss 18K gold half hunting cased watch Patek Philippe Circa 1889
- Kenmerk
- FB0280
- Diameter
- 44 mm
- Estimate
- € 6.000 - 12.500
- Price sold
- € 8.850
Gold half hunter watch with lever chronometer
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A fine Swiss 18 carat gold keyless wind half hunter pocket watch Retailed by Musy Padre e Figli, Torino originally gifted by Princess Hélène of Orléans to Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Aosta. Manufactured 1889, Purchased 24th June 1902. Gilt Swiss lever, cut and compensated bimetallic balance, wolf tooth winding.
White enamel dial, black Roman numerals, black outer minute track with red 5-minute markers, subsidiary seconds at 6, blued steel double spade hands.
Polished hinged, Roman numeral chapter to front, enamel crest of Princess Hèlène to reverse, engraving to inside back reads ’25-6-95 hope is life, Hèlène 25-6-05′. Case, dial and movement signed, cuvette signed Musy Padre e Figli, Torino.
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Diameter: 44 mm
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Signed: Patek Philippe & Cie. Genève
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Accompanied by an extract from the archives.
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Princess Hélène of Orléans (1871-1951) was a celebrated beauty from the turn of the century and hailed from the illustrious but now deposed French Orleans royal family. Her father, Prince Philippe Count of Paris, had been heir to the French throne and as such she spent her early years dipping in and out of exile as and when the French Republic dictated it necessary. She had several important suitors but it was Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, 2nd Duke of Aosta (1869–1931) whom she eventually married in 1895.
The current lot was gifted to the Duke by Hélène upon their 10th wedding anniversary and bears the inscription ’25-6-95 hope is life, Hèlène 25-6-05′. Their marriage was not necessarily a happy one and the Princess spent a lot of her time on long trips travelling around Africa. In time the Duke gifted the watch to Maresciallo Emilio De Bono who in turn presented it to the current vendors grandfather.
The cuvette is co-signed by the retailers Musy Padre e Figli. Musy Padre e Figli are one of the oldest jewellers in Italy and until fairly recently had been kept within the same family since their inception in 1706. Based in Turin, they were able to take advantage of the growing wealth of the city in the 18th and 19th centuries and bore the title of ‘Goldsmiths and Watchmakers of the House of Savoy’.
Signed: Patek Philippe & Cie. Genève
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