Passions Watch Exchange

About This Watch

Antique. No box or paper but has factory archive certificate and a pouch will be given.

This exquisite Patek Philippe was built at the Geneva factory in 1907 and on 25 Oct 1909, it was supplied to an American retailer Herman T Jarecki in a small town of Erie, Pennsylvania, USA & signed on the movement, it was sold two months later to a Miss Rebecca. The watch is tripled signed on the case, dial and movement. Hallmarked 18K, numbered and factory stamped throughout by the Swiss factory. On the surface of the dust cover, it was engraved with

"Made for James Nelson Thayer, Erie, Pa

by Patek Philippe & Co Geneva-Switzerland

From Rebecca Christmas 1909"

So this watch is coming to 111 yrs old and remains in fabulous condition. There are several interesting points to note on this gorgeous watch.

First, the white enamel dial is in perfect condition and signed in full which includes the Canton and country, a practice that was dropped later in favour of a simpler signature.

It is fitted with solid gold Louis XV hands that are highly decorative and so pretty.

The movement is in excellent condition, and of a very high grade, jewelled to the center wheel with a swan-neck fine regulator then adjusted to a chronometer standard of 8 positions which still keeps time to day.

The case is very attractive, inspired by earlier European repeater style case with extended winding stem with highly decorative filigree engravings on the edges complete with blue and white enamelled rings that are recorded by the factory and shown on the archive certificate. The tripled hinged case snaps tightly and in very good condition throughout, without any serious scratches nor dings. It would be very difficult to find another pocket watch of this decorative nature by Patek Phlippe again as most of their production pieces were in simple polished cases.

It takes about 10 winds on the crown to full. This watch could've been ordered by Rebecca from her local jeweller, Herman T Jarecki for her James as a Christmas gift of 1909. The small town snows and it would've been quite a sight during Christmas. Attached here is a panorama photo of the town in 1912 and two other postcards of the period. The town is located right next to Lake Erie which is one of America's 5 great lakes.