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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch

Patek Philippe & Cie. 18kt yellow gold pocket watch made for Charles Grottendieck

Partially verified

This yellow gold pocket watch by Patek Philippe & Cie., Genève, is dated by Sotheby's to circa 1907 and was made for retailer Charles Grottendieck in Bruxelles. The case measures 48.5 mm and is listed as 18kt yellow gold with a top-mounted crown, bow, and a pin near the bezel. It features a white enamel dial with black painted Breguet numerals, an outer red 13–24 hour ring, pierced gold Louis XV hands, and a subsidiary seconds dial at the 6 o'clock position. The manual-wind movement is cataloged as a 19''' keyless lever escapement.

Dial view of the Patek Philippe 18kt yellow gold pocket watch
Dial view of the Patek Philippe 18kt yellow gold pocket watch — Sotheby's. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.sothebys.com
Category
Pocket watch · Open-face pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Patek Philippe & Cie., Genève
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
d281
Source-reported date
circa 1907
Source-reported place
Switzerland

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

Dial and Hands

The timepiece features a white enamel dial with black painted Breguet Arabic numerals and an outer ring displaying red numerals from 13 to 24. A subsidiary seconds dial is positioned at 6 o'clock, featuring black graduations and red markings at ten-second intervals.

Time is indicated by gold-toned pierced Louis XV hands. The dial is signed 'PATEK PHILIPPE & CIE GENÈVE' below the 12 o'clock position. Sotheby's condition report notes minor signs of tarnish on the hands, with the dial and crystal described as being in good condition.

Evidence for this section
  • “white enamel dial with painted breguet numerals”
  • “gold Louis XV hands”
  • “Hands are showing minor signs of tarnish.”
  • “Dial signed 'PATEK PHILIPPE & CIE GENÈVE' below the 12 o'clock position.”

Case Configuration and Retailer Association

The case measures 48.5 mm and is listed as 18kt yellow gold, fitted with a fluted winding crown, bow, and a small setting pin near the 11 o'clock position on the bezel rim. The source catalog states that the watch was produced circa 1907 for retailer Charles Grottendieck in Bruxelles.

A cataloging discrepancy exists regarding the case construction: the description calls the piece a 'hunter cased keyless lever pocket watch', whereas the listing title specifies an 'open face pocket watch', which matches the visible configuration in the photograph.

Evidence for this section
  • “made for Charles Grottendieck, Bruxelles, circa 1907, 48.5mm.”
  • “hunter cased keyless lever pocket watch”
  • “open face pocket watch”
  • “Yellow gold case with top pendant, fluted winding crown, bow, and a small setting pin near the 11 o'clock position.”

Movement and Unrecorded Details

The movement is cataloged as a manual-wind 19''' keyless lever escapement. Sotheby's recorded the movement as running at the time of cataloging, though rate accuracy and power reserve duration were not evaluated.

Because only a single frontal view is provided, the movement finishing, inner cuvette, case back, and serial numbers or hallmarks are not recorded in this source.

Evidence for this section
  • “19''' lever escapement”
  • “Movement Type Manual Wind”
  • “The movement is running at the time of cataloging, however, it was not tested for the accuracy of time or duration of the power reserve”

Open research questions

  • What are the movement and case serial numbers, and do they correspond with Patek Philippe archives for 1907?
  • Why does the catalog description designate the watch as hunter cased when the image and title indicate an open-face watch?
  • Is the retailer name Charles Grottendieck engraved on the dial, cuvette, or movement bridges?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Patek Philippe & Cie. 18kt yellow gold pocket watch made for Charles Grottendieck
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerPatek Philippe & Cie., Genève“Patek Philippe & Cie., Genève”
RetailerCharles Grottendieck, Bruxelles“made for Charles Grottendieck, Bruxelles”
Case Material18kt yellow gold“18kt yellow gold”
Case Size48.5 mm“Case Size (mm) 48.5”
Escapement19''' lever escapement“19''' lever escapement”
DialWhite enamel dial with painted breguet numerals“white enamel dial with painted breguet numerals”
HandsGold Louis XV hands“gold Louis XV hands”
Winding MechanismKeyless manual wind“keyless lever pocket watch”
Reported Movement StatusRunning at cataloging; accuracy and power reserve untested by seller“The movement is running at the time of cataloging, however, it was not tested for the accuracy of time or duration of the power reserve”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial bearing black Breguet Arabic numerals and an outer ring of red 13–24 hour markings.
  • Gold-toned pierced, scrollwork Louis XV style hands.
  • Subsidiary seconds dial positioned at 6 o'clock with black graduations and red 10-second intervals.
  • Dial signed 'PATEK PHILIPPE & CIE GENÈVE' below the 12 o'clock position.
  • Yellow gold case with top pendant, fluted winding crown, bow, and a small setting pin near the 11 o'clock position.

Research qualifications

  • Sotheby's text refers to the piece as 'hunter cased' in the description while titling it an 'open face' watch; the photograph depicts an open-face configuration.
  • Internal movement, escapement, and case hallmarks are not visible in the supplied single image.
  • No rear case back is visible in the provided image.

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

Consulted source

Patek Philippe Vintage Vintage Pocket Watch, A Yellow Gold Manual Wind Open Face Pocket Watch Available For Immediate Sale At Sotheby’s

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 896c609811

Terms in this record

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

Other open-face pocket watch records