Pocket Watches · Pocket watch
Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Chased Porcelain Dial Pocket Watch, 1920s
- Maker / attribution
- Patek Philippe (maker)
- Date
- 1920s
- Historical period
- Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Pocket watch
- Materials / technique
- gold
- Dealer
- WatchMuseum.org shop
- Stock no.
- Product 4229
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 4229)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Chased Porcelain Dial 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 4229), this is a pocket watch by Patek Philippe, made in Switzerland, dated 1920s. 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 back in time to the elegance and sophistication of the 1920s with the Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Chased Porcelain Dial Pocket Watch, a masterpiece of horological craftsmanship. This exquisite timepiece, encased in a 45 mm, 18k yellow gold case, is a testament to Patek Philippe’s unparalleled attention to detail and dedication to quality. The intricate hand engravings and chasing on the bezel and case back highlight the artistry that went into its creation. Adding to its allure, the gold inside cuvette, or dust cover, offers an additional layer of protection for the watch’s intricate mechanics. Powered by an 18-jewel mechanical manual wind nickel lever movement, this pocket watch ensures precise timekeeping. The porcelain dial, adorned with black Arabic numerals and a sunk seconds chapter, exudes a timeless charm. Preserved in excellent condition, it even includes its original Patek Philippe leather storage pouch, making it a collector’s dream. Originating from Switzerland and manufactured in the 1920s, this vintage pocket watch is not just a timepiece but a piece of history, embodying the elegance and innovation of its era. This particular Patek Philippe Pocket watch dates back to the 1920s and boasts a 45 M.M. 3 Piece 18k Yellow Gold case with intricate hand engravings and chasing on the bezel and case back. The Gold inside Cuvette, also known as the dust cover, adds an extra level of protection for the watch. This classic timepiece features an 18 Jewel Mechanical Manual wind Nickle Lever movement, while the porcelain dial features a sunk seconds chapter with Black Arabic numbers. The watch even comes with its original Patek Philippe Leather Storage pouch for safekeeping. All in all, this vintage Patek Philippe Pocket watch is a stunning example of the brand’s craftsmanship and attention to detail. Creator: Patek Philippe Case Material: 18k Gold Movement: Manual Wind Case Dimensions: Diameter: 45 mm (1.78 in) Place of Origin: Switzerland Period: 1920-1929 Date of Manufacture: 1920s 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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