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Lot Essay
Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of this pair-cased watch decorated with engraved "Vermicelle" pattern and coat of arms in 1856 and its subsequent sale on 24 January 1859.
The present watch represents a combination of two rarities, the movement and the unusual case design.
It is in fact a very early example featuring the most efficient and, still today, most usual variation of the crown winding system, a mechanism for setting and winding the watches by the crown (pull out to set, push in to wind), invented by Adrien Philippe. This invention, for which he was granted the first patent as early as 1845, was more than a clever mechanism but changed the nature of watches and allowed the evolution from the keyless watch to today's waterproof wristwatch.
The second also highly rare and unusual feature of the present watch is the design of the two cases, conceived for the watch to be used either "open" and showing the dial or "closed" showing the back of the inner case, hence the designation "Cabriolet". The cases are of such outstandingly high quality, allowing the inner case to fit so perfectly into the outer case, that the two sides show virtually no difference, neither visible nor tangible, when used as hunter case.
The engraved initials to the reverse of the inner case are possibly Cyrillic and could read "HA".
Watches in such exceptionally good condition combined with aesthetic and historic aspects such as the present lot are particularly rare to find.
The present watch represents a combination of two rarities, the movement and the unusual case design.
It is in fact a very early example featuring the most efficient and, still today, most usual variation of the crown winding system, a mechanism for setting and winding the watches by the crown (pull out to set, push in to wind), invented by Adrien Philippe. This invention, for which he was granted the first patent as early as 1845, was more than a clever mechanism but changed the nature of watches and allowed the evolution from the keyless watch to today's waterproof wristwatch.
The second also highly rare and unusual feature of the present watch is the design of the two cases, conceived for the watch to be used either "open" and showing the dial or "closed" showing the back of the inner case, hence the designation "Cabriolet". The cases are of such outstandingly high quality, allowing the inner case to fit so perfectly into the outer case, that the two sides show virtually no difference, neither visible nor tangible, when used as hunter case.
The engraved initials to the reverse of the inner case are possibly Cyrillic and could read "HA".
Watches in such exceptionally good condition combined with aesthetic and historic aspects such as the present lot are particularly rare to find.