Patek Philippe

18k, gilt brass lever movement, bi-metallic compensation balance, white enamel dial, Roman numerals, outer Arabic numerals for minutes, large single aperture below 12 for triple date indication, aperture for moon-phases combined with subsidiary seconds, demi-bassine polished case, the back with monogram, cuvette signed, accompanied by a Certificate of Origin, Extract from the Archives and original Patek Philippe presentation case

The accompanying Extract from the Patek Philippe Archives confirms that this watch was manufactured in 1883 and sold in October 1888. The Certificate of Origin confirms that this watch left the factory with a monogram to the case back.

This is the only Patek Philippe watch currently known with this combination of complication and display. Only three other watches are known with simple calendar and no other complication but these pre-date the present watch by more than 10 years and did not bear linear or 'digital' display, nor moon-phases. To illustrate the rarity of the present watch, more than 70 vintage pocket watches with perpetual calendar have been identified as re-offered on the market further suggesting the possiblity that this watch is unique.

Interestingly, the winding wheels, which are usually sunk, stand proud of the backplate. This feature is normally only found in ultra thin, tourbillon or two-train calibre watches. The only known watch with a similar movement setting is Patek Philippe no.25.308 (Patek Philippe Museum, inv.1281).