Lot 248
248
A FINE ROSE GOLD OPENFACE PRESENTATION WATCH WITH GEM-SET MONOGRAM AND CROWN OF VICTOR EMMANUEL OF ITALY

Details
A FINE ROSE GOLD OPENFACE PRESENTATION WATCH WITH GEM-SET MONOGRAM AND CROWN OF VICTOR EMMANUEL OF ITALY
PATEK PHILIPPE & CO., GENEVA, NO. 38935 FOR A. BARBERO & CO., ROME
The gilt keyless lever movement jewelled to the third wheel, escapement with moustache counterpoise and flat blued hairspring, 18K gold cuvette, white enamel dial with roman chapters, subsidiary seconds, blued-steel hands, within an 18K rose gold case with applied crowned monogram VE, set with old mine-cut diamonds, rubies and emeralds, signed on cuvette and case, the movement numbered 38934 and 3043 with ebauche maker's trademark, a lion's head, also numbered on case, cuvette and reverse of dial, c. 1870--48mm. diam.

Lot Essay

Italy was consolidated during the reign of Victor Emmanuel II (1820-1878). A brave soldier in his youth, he ascended the throne in 1849 as King of Sardinia. A reformer, he named the great statesman Camillo Benso di Cavour as his prime minister in 1852. The unification of Italy proceeded, and in 1861 Victor Emmanuel became "King of Italy."
The present watch was undoubtedly a royal gift. From its date of manufacture, it would have been presented shortly after the creation of a unified Italy with Rome as its capital, in 1871.