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Lot Essay
Reference 865, a hunter case pocket watch, was launched in 1969 and remained in production until the early 1990s. It was available in yellow and white gold and with a variety of decoration styles, including enamel miniatures or portraits, chased or engraved scenes and others.
The appeal of Reference 865 lies in the extraordinary craftsmanship applied to its cases, produced during an era when pocket watches were gradually being supplanted by wristwatches. Each case was individually hand-finished by master engravers and enamelers, many recruited from Geneva’s finest ateliers. The present watch celebrates the motifs of "chasse à courre d’automne" —an autumn hunt on horseback with hounds, a subject deeply rooted in European aristocratic tradition. Because each piece is unique, collectors today seek out specific motifs or artists, making comprehensive documentation difficult. The reference remains a high-water mark for Patek Philippe’s commitment to bespoke decorative arts.
It is thought that approx. 220 decorated cases were made by the best artists of the time, each unique. For other examples of Patek Philippe's dress watches with engraved hunting scenes see Patek Philippe Museum, Patek Philippe Watches, Vol. II, 2013, pp. 382 & 383.
The appeal of Reference 865 lies in the extraordinary craftsmanship applied to its cases, produced during an era when pocket watches were gradually being supplanted by wristwatches. Each case was individually hand-finished by master engravers and enamelers, many recruited from Geneva’s finest ateliers. The present watch celebrates the motifs of "chasse à courre d’automne" —an autumn hunt on horseback with hounds, a subject deeply rooted in European aristocratic tradition. Because each piece is unique, collectors today seek out specific motifs or artists, making comprehensive documentation difficult. The reference remains a high-water mark for Patek Philippe’s commitment to bespoke decorative arts.
It is thought that approx. 220 decorated cases were made by the best artists of the time, each unique. For other examples of Patek Philippe's dress watches with engraved hunting scenes see Patek Philippe Museum, Patek Philippe Watches, Vol. II, 2013, pp. 382 & 383.