$47,200
Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 111925. Made in 1900, sold on August 5, 1901. Very fine and very rare, extra-large, silver, keyless pocket watch. Accompanied by the original fitted box, spare crystal and the original Certificat d'Origine and an Extract from the Archives. Four-body, "bassine", massive, polished. Hinged silver cuvette. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel lozenge and heart hands. Notes This pocket watch was purchased in 1953 by the current owner while serving in the US Army in France during the Korean War. He was drafted into the US Army in 1952 where he was sent to the Nancy Ordinance Depot in Nancy, France. While in the service, he repaired fire control equipment. He also made money on the side by repairing servicemen’s watches. This allowed him to travel in Europe during his leaves and 3-day passes. On one such pass, he traveled to Paris to visit the Paris Flea Market where he found this Patek pocket watch. He did not have enough money on that occasion to purchase the watch. With the idea that he could return to Paris and purchase the watch on a subsequent trip, the consigner, a non-smoker, saved his ration of American cigarettes. He carried his suitcase full of cartons of cigarettes (estimated at $65.00) to the Flea Market and traded them for the watch. In the days following his purchase, the owner was examining the watch display case when he discovered a compartment that contained the origi
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2007-12-05
