Lot #5326
Patek Philippe Enamel Presentation Pocket Watch 18K YG Box and Papers
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Introduction
At the beginning of the twentieth century, a Patek Philippe pocket watch represented considerably more than a means of keeping time. The manufacture was already internationally recognised for precision watchmaking, while its finest pieces brought together traditional Genevan movement construction with the decorative crafts that defined high-end horology of the period. This 46mm example combines an 18K yellow gold case with enamel decoration, an enamel dial and a hand-finished mechanical movement incorporating a compensated balance and Breguet hairspring.
What makes this watch particularly compelling, however, is the unusually complete story preserved with it. The inner cover is engraved “No. 211219, Made for William F. Tutty, 1909 by Patek, Philippe & Co. Geneva Suisse”, identifying it as a personal commission or presentation for William F. Tutty. Crucially, the surviving Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin & Warranty bears the same name, directly connecting the watch, its dedication and its original documentation. Preserved together with its original box and papers, it represents the sort of early Patek Philippe object in which craftsmanship and provenance are inseparable, not simply a surviving pocket watch, but a personalised commission whose original recipient remains recorded more than a century later.
Loupe This Scorecard
Grade
V 8.5
Status
Vetted & Approved
Included
Box and papers
Est. value range
$8,000 – $12,000
The Details
Brand
Patek Philippe
Dimensions
46mm
Model
Pocket Watch
Movement
Manual-wind mechanical movement
Reference
N/A
Bracelet
N/A
Year
1909
Condition
Excellent
Material
18K Yellow Gold and Enamel
Included
Box and papers
Dial Color
White Enamel
THE DIAL
The traditional white enamel dial provides a crisp counterpoint to the elaborate exterior decoration, with subsidiary seconds and a classically restrained display appropriate to a precision pocket watch of the period. Its simplicity allows the enamel work of the case and the personalised nature of the watch to remain the principal focus.
THE CONSTRUCTION
Measuring 46mm in diameter, the pocket watch is housed in an 18K yellow gold case embellished with enamel work and a monogram. The inner cover carries the particularly important personalised inscription naming William F. Tutty and dating the watch to 1909, alongside the Patek Philippe name and Geneva signature.
TIMING MACHINE READOUT
This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
Condition
Watch is in overall excellent condition. The 18K yellow gold case retains very well-defined intricate detailing around the circumference, with largely excellent enamel work to the bezel, outer edge of the outer case back, and plaque on the winding pot. The monogrammed crest on the outer case back has a small area of loss, while the surrounding surface shows scratches and scuffs. The inner case back retains a very well-defined presentation engraving. The white enamel dial is in excellent condition, with only a few light surface marks, and the hands show some light patina. A hallmark on the chain ring remains legible, while the stamps and hallmarks inside the outer case back remain crisp. Comes with original box and papers, with the name on the accompanying documentation matching that of the presentation engraving.
Our Perspective
Early Patek Philippe pocket watches can be compelling purely as objects of horological craftsmanship, but this example offers something more difficult to preserve: its identity. The engraved dedication to William F. Tutty is supported by original documentation bearing the same name, tying the object directly to the person for whom it was commissioned. Together with its original box, enamel decoration and 18K gold construction, that continuity gives the watch an unusually tangible connection to Patek Philippe at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Justin Gruenberg
Co-founder
