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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Center-seconds pocket watch

Patek Philippe 18K Gold Center-Seconds Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This 18K gold keyless center-seconds pocket watch, manufactured in 1915 by Patek, Philippe & Cie of Geneva, features a 48 mm diameter case. The watch is constructed as a four-body 'bassine' case with a polished finish and a hinged gold cuvette. It is powered by an 18-ligne movement measuring 40.3 mm in diameter, decorated with rhodium-plated 'fausses côtes' patterning. Technical features include 21 jewels, a straight-line counterpoised lever escapement, a cut bimetallic compensation balance, and a blued-steel Breguet balance spring. The movement is fitted with eight adjustments and a swan-neck micrometric regulator. The silvered dial displays a bâton hour chapter with applied gold Arabic numerals at the quarters, an outer minute track, and an outermost seconds scale with five-second Arabic markers. Gold 'feuilles' hands indicate the time. The watch was sold to Texeira Santos on November 18, 1943.

View of the silvered dial and gold case of the Patek Philippe pocket watch.
View of the silvered dial and gold case of the Patek Philippe pocket watch. — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category
Pocket watch · Center-seconds pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Patek, Philippe & Cie
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
211
Source-reported date
1915
Source-reported place
Switzerland
Source-reported serial
185204

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case and Dial Construction

The watch is housed in a four-body 'bassine' case manufactured from 18K gold. The exterior is polished, and the piece includes a gold hinged cuvette protecting the movement.

The silvered dial uses a bâton-style hour chapter with applied gold Arabic numerals located at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock positions. The layout includes an outer minute ring and an outermost seconds track featuring Arabic numerals at five-second intervals. Gold 'feuilles' hands are used to display the time, with a central seconds hand completing the display.

Evidence for this section
  • “Four-body, ?bassine?, polished, gold hinged cuvette.”
  • “Silvered, ?bâton? hour chapter with applied gold Arabic quarters, outer minute ring, outermost seconds ring with five-second Arabic markers.”
  • “Gold ?feuilles? hands.”

Movement and Technical Specifications

The movement is an 18-ligne caliber measuring 40.3 mm in diameter. It is rhodium-plated and finished with traditional 'fausses côtes' decoration. The mechanism contains 21 jewels and employs a straight-line counterpoised lever escapement, paired with a cut bimetallic compensation balance and a blued-steel Breguet-overcoil balance spring.

Regulation of the movement is managed through a swan-neck micrometric regulator. The watch is calibrated to eight adjustments to ensure timekeeping accuracy.

Evidence for this section
  • “40.3 mmø (18'''), rhodiumed, ?fausses côtes? decoration, 21 jewels”
  • “straight-line counterpoised lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued-steel Breguet balance spring”
  • “8 adjustments, "swan-neck" micrometric regulator.”
  • “Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense”

Signatures and Provenance

The watch is signed by Patek, Philippe & Cie on the dial, the case, and the movement, confirming the integrity of the components as a singular unit. The serial numbers identify the watch as movement No. 185204 and case No. 501527.

Historical records indicate the watch was manufactured in 1915. It was subsequently sold to an individual named Texeira Santos on November 18, 1943, providing a clear post-manufacture provenance record for the object.

Evidence for this section
  • “Signed on dial, case and movement.”
  • “No. 185204, case No. 501527, made in 1915, sold to Texeira Santos on November 18, 1943.”

Open research questions

  • What specific archival details are available regarding the 'Texeira Santos' provenance?
  • Does the movement possess a proprietary caliber designation beyond the ligne measurement?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Patek Philippe 18K Gold Center-Seconds Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerPatek, Philippe & Cie“Patek, Philippe & Cie, Genève”
Movement Serial185204“No. 185204”
Case Serial501527“case No. 501527”
Year of Manufacture1915“made in 1915”
ProvenanceSold to Texeira Santos, 1943“sold to Texeira Santos on November 18, 1943”
Movement Diameter40.3 mm“40.3 mmø (18''')”
Dial FeaturesSilvered dial with applied Arabic quarters“Silvered, ?bâton? hour chapter with applied gold Arabic quarters”

Visible details

  • Silvered dial with applied gold Arabic numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock
  • Center-seconds hand extending to the outermost seconds track
  • Polished gold 'bassine' case with a rounded bow and crown
  • Gold 'feuilles' (leaf-shaped) hour and minute hands

Research qualifications

  • The auction description explicitly recommends an overhaul for the movement.
  • The condition grading of the movement is listed as '3*' with an accompanying request for professional servicing.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Patek, Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 185204, case No. 501527, made in 1915, sold to Texeira Santos on November 18, 1943.Very fine and rare 18K gold keyless center-seconds pocket watch.

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 6ae4df31b8

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.