The pocket watch is the original gentlemen’s portable timepiece. Evolved from a long line of timekeepers reaching back to the sundial, the pocket watch was an elegant and classic men’s accessory of the late 19th and 20th centuries. Similar to the modern wristwatch, the pocket watch spoke to a man’s status, and from time only to complicated watches, it helped define a man. Today, the pocket watch is seen by many as a novelty, however their importance in the history of horology cannot be understated. The present Patek Philippe openface pocket watch, retailed by Tiffany & Co. is a wonderful example of this bygone era.

Patek Philippe is a brand associated with excellence in traditional Swiss watchmaking. Known for their innovative designs, and masterful complicated movements, their watches are the height of mechanical excellence, and their name is associated with many luminaries including the famed Henry Graves Supercomplication. Tiffany & Co. is a luxury retailer, which like their Swiss counterpart, is appreciated for their quality and customer satisfaction. The branding of these two companies began in 1851 when Tiffany & Co. became the first official American retailer for Patek Philippe. An agreement between Antonine Norbert de Patek, and Charles Lewis Tiffany saw the US retailer place an order for 150 timepieces. By 1876, the two reached an agreement with Tiffany & Co., named as the Patek Philippe’s representative in the United States. The relationship has remained for more than a century and a half. Patek Philippe opened a boutique in Tiffany’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City in 2008, and in 2021 to celebrate their 170th anniversary the pair released a limited edition Tiffany Blue dial 5711 Nautilus. The first example sold at Phillips New York in December 2021 for a world record price, and immediately became one of the most sought after timepieces in the watch world.

Generously donated by Collectability LLC, the present openface pocket watch is a classic example of the exceptional workmanship and understated design Patek Philippe is renowned for. The silvered matte dial features both the maker and retailer’s signatures in raised, hard champlevé enamel, with elegant baton numerals and subsidiary seconds. The 47.5mm diameter case is highlighted by an oversized oval-shaped pendant, and the movement is stamped “HOX”, the designated U.S. import stamp for Patek Philippe – perfectly consistent with its provenance. The watch is preserved in excellent condition, and is a reminder of horology’s past, and the enduring relationship between two of the most coveted names in Swiss watch making and US luxury retail.

This watch is being sold to benefit the Horological Society of New York’s ongoing education initiatives, in support of international traveling and virtual education programs, scholarships for students of watchmaking, and awards to watchmaking schools.