A formidable combination of watchmaking, skeletonisation, and high jewelry, this watch is an impressive 48mm in diameter but incredibly thin, with its elegant profile matched only by the barely-there movement. Despite having been open-worked to an astonishing degree, the calibre 17’’’170 within has been richly hand-engraved with an elaborate motif that continues into the front and back of the case, including the bow. A dozen rubies are placed around the front bezel acting as hour markers, accentuated by a large ruby cabochon inlaid into the crown, and the bezel at the reverse is encircled entirely by diamonds.

A new addition to known scholarship, this skeletonized pocket watch reference 912 comes from the estate of a distinctive American collector, also the consignor of the reference 2499 in this same sale. Now the sixth example known to the public, it features seed pearls around the caseband, diamonds surrounding the bezel and at the bow, and rubies on the bezel functioning as hour markers. In pristine overall condition, it is further enhanced by a gloriously ornate, solid yellow gold and red enamel stand studded judiciously with diamonds. The stand itself is almost rococo-inspired, with elaborate scrolling arms meeting in a small, diamond-embellished dome at the top. The dais and arms of both are augmented by richly saturated polychrome enamel in a ruby red color.

A superb, fresh-to-the-market discovery with a possibly unique stand, the present example is a treasure for the most ardent collectors of Patek Philippe’s mètiers d’arts.