PATEK PHILLIPPE & CIE, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Approximately 16 Size, 20 jewels, Open Face Circa 1889

This beautiful, ultra high grade watch was made by the Swiss firm of Patek Phillippe for Bingham & Walk Jewelers of Indianapolis, Indiana. Patek Phillippe, which was founded in Geneva, in 1851, has made some of the most desirable factory made watches ever produced. There are many examples of Patek Philipe watches which were made specially for high end jewelers in the U. S. As with this example, they were usually, if not always, cased at the factory, with both Patek Phillippe and the name of the jeweler on the case, movement and dial (the PP mark is on the back of the dial).

I first saw this watch at a New Year's Eve party hosted by a family friend. The watch was precariously held in the hands of a very little girl, who looked about to drop it. I calmly walked over, so as not to startle her, and asked if I could see the watch. My host, seeing that I was trying to protect his watch, said "Don't worry, its just an old watch that has been in the family for ages.". As soon as I picked up the watch, I knew it was not just any old watch. First, it was heavy and had the feel of high karat gold. Second, I knew the name of the jeweler on the dial, and had seen other high grade watches bearing this name. When I opened the back and saw the dedication, my mouth dropped open. When I saw the beautifully engraved "M'f'd for Bingham and Walk, Indianapolis, Ind" I knew what the movement would confirm...that it was a Patek, and my hands began to shake. I was probably closer to dropping the watch than the little girl.

The dedication on the watch says " J.Q. Van Winkle, from employees, St Louis & Indianapolis Divisions and Indianapolis Terminal, C.C.C. and St. L. Ry. December 29, 1891.". This was the date of my friend's great grandfather's retirement as manager of the Indianapolis and St Louis Division of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St Louis Railway (The Big Four), and this watch was his retirement gift. It is interesting that an American railway company did not give an American watch as a retirement gift, but even in 1891, a Patek was considered the best of the best.

This watch has cap jewels on the balance, the lever, the escape wheel, and is jeweled at the back side of the center wheel only, for a total of 20 jewels. It has wolf teeth winding wheels and is marked "Extra" on the center wheel bridge. Its hands are the typical wine colored moon hands of a Patek, and the case has the typical Patek hallmarks. The watch is pendant set. My friend's Grand Father must have worn the watch only sparingly, because it has only minimal wear on the case. The balance wheel takes off and the hairspring begins to coil and uncoil at the slightest wind. It still has all the class it did on the day it was presented.

My friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, says that the watch has always meant a lot to his family, even before he knew it was valuable. I don't think he will be letting little girls pick it up at his parties any more though.

I have broken my own rule this month and used a non-American watch as the Watch of the month. I hope you will forgive me, since the watch has a great American connection or two. I don't anticipate breaking this rule again.

If you have an interesting American pocket watch you would like to submit as Interstatetime Watch of the Month, and please don't think it has to be as sexy as the last few.....

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