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Patek Philippe 18CT Gold Centre Second Pocket Watch, 1920 — view 1 of 6
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Patek Philippe 18CT Gold Centre Second Pocket Watch, 1920

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Patek Philippe (maker)
Date
1920
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold
Stock no.
Product 2790
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 2790)
Catalogue title (original)
Patek Philippe 18CT Gold Centre Second Pocket Watch (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by WatchMuseum.org shop (stock number Product 2790), this is a pocket watch by Patek Philippe, made in Switzerland, dated 1920. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — WatchMuseum.org shop

Step into a world of horological excellence with the Patek Philippe 18CT Gold Centre Second Pocket Watch from 1920, a rare gem that epitomizes the pinnacle of Swiss craftsmanship. This exquisite timepiece, crafted by the renowned Patek Philippe, was specially commissioned for A & C Feldenheimer, a distinguished jeweler and goldsmith based in Portland, Oregon. The watch features a stunning white enamel dial adorned with elegant Breguet numerals, an outer minute track with red Arabic five-second interval numerals, and the prestigious Patek Philippe & Cie Geneva Switzerland signature. The Louis XVI-style filigree hands, made from rare rose gold, and a blued steel center second hand add a touch of timeless elegance. Encased in 18ct yellow gold, the pocket watch boasts a plain polished back that opens to reveal a meticulously crafted, fully jewelled nickel-finished movement. This Grade A Quality movement is equipped with sophisticated features such as wolf’s tooth winding, micro regulation, and compensated balance, and is fully signed by A & C Feldenheimer, underscoring its exclusivity. Centre second watches by Patek Philippe are exceedingly rare, making this timepiece a highly coveted addition to any collection. Don’t miss the opportunity to own a piece of history with this exceptional Patek Philippe pocket watch, a testament to the brand’s enduring legacy and unparalleled craftsmanship. Introducing a rare and stunning 18ct gold centre second keyless lever open face pocket watch, crafted by the esteemed Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe in the 1920s. This particular timepiece was made specially for A & C Feldenheimer, a prominent jeweler and goldsmith in Portland, Oregon. The exquisite white enamel dial is adorned with Breguet numerals, an outer minute track with red Arabic five-second interval numerals, and is signed by Patek Philippe & Cie Geneva Switzerland. The Louis XVI-style filigree hands are made of rare, beautiful rose gold and include a blued steel center second hand. The case of this Patek Philippe pocket watch is crafted from 18ct yellow gold, and boasts a plain polished back that opens to reveal the highly polished, fully jewelled nickel finished movement with its center second mechanism on the top plate. Other noteworthy features of this rare, Grade A Quality movement include wolf’s tooth winding, micro regulation, and compensated balance. Even more special, this movement is fully signed by the American retailer A & C Feldenheimer, who commissioned special Patek Philippe watches for their exclusive clientele. Centre second watches produced by Patek Philippe are exceedingly rare, making this stunning timepiece all the more important. Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of history and add this Patek Philippe pocket watch to your collection. Creator: Patek Philippe Case Material: Gold,18k Gold,Yellow Gold Case Shape: Round Movement: Manual Wind Case Dimensions: Diameter: 45 mm (1.78 in) Place of Origin: Switzerland Period: 1920-1929 Date of Manufacture: 1920 Condition: Excellent

Historical context

Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)

The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.

The pocket watch reached technical maturity and then began to give way to the wristwatch after the First World War. Complicated watches for collectors such as Henry Graves Jr. and James Ward Packard, railroad watches, and slim Art Deco dress watches are characteristic.

Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution

Atlas type guide

Pocket watches

The pocket watch was the dominant personal timekeeper from the late seventeenth century until the First World War. Its development tracks the history of the escapement: verge watches with fusees until the late eighteenth century; Thomas Mudge's lever escapement (c. 1755) and the cylinder escapement popularised by George Graham and later by Swiss makers; and the Swiss and English lever watches of the nineteenth century. Lépine's bar-bridge calibre and keyless winding made watches thinner and easier to use.

Industrialisation transformed the trade: American factories such as Waltham (from 1850) and Elgin produced interchangeable parts by machine, and Swiss makers responded with their own mechanisation after the 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition. By 1900 a reliable watch was affordable to millions; the finest makers continued to produce complications and precision watches.

What to look for

  • The escapement: verge (crown wheel), cylinder, duplex, English or Swiss lever.
  • Key winding (a square arbor in dial or back) or keyless crown winding.
  • Signatures and serial numbers on the movement, dial and inside case back.
  • Hallmarks, case maker's marks and gold or silver standards stamped in the case.
  • Dial material: enamel, silver, gold, later printed metal.

Dating clues

  • Verge watches dominate before c. 1800; cylinder watches c. 1770–1900; lever watches after c. 1820.
  • Keyless winding: increasingly common after c. 1860.
  • Manufacturer serial number lists exist for Waltham, Elgin, Longines, Omega, Patek Philippe and others.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Read next:Verge escapementDetached lever escapementFuseeIdentification Centre

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