.Patek Philippe & Co Quarter Repeater, Unique Jesus engraving, very early with original box, circa 1851

Patek Philippe & Co Quarter Repeater, Unique Jesus engraving, very early with original box, circa 1851

Patek Philippe & Co Quarter Repeater in 18K gold, production circa 1851, retailed by A.H. Rodanet Paris.

Four-body 18K gold case, very early number – 5524.

Unique high quality engraving of Jesus with the crown of thorns.

Dial: White enamel dial, Roman numerals, minutes division, Breguet hands.

Movement: Key-less movement, bridge plate, wolf’s tooth-winding, cylinder escapement, flat annular balance. Quarter and hour repeater on two polished steel gongs via slider, anchor regulator.

Diameter Ø: 46 mm | Weight: 80 g

Watch in working condition, all parts original Patek Philippe. Unique possibility to buy original, very early Patek Philippe quarter repeater with Jesus engraving.

Watch comes with original Patek Philippe & Co Geneve box.

„Patek Philippe founding father Antoine Norbert de Patek (1812-1877) was a fervent Catholic who passionately defended his Polish homeland and his faith. He worked tirelessly for the Zmartwychwstancy congragation – the Congregation of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the group recognized him for his work in The Church. In 1865, Patek was knighted as a Count circa 1865 from the Republic of San Marino and was recognized by the Vatican for his role in supporting the Holy See. In fact, the Calatrava cross that is on the crown of your modern Patek Philippe is a logo that dates back to the 1870s and clearly had religious significance for Mr. Patek. Pocket watch cases began being stamped or engraved with the Calatrava logo dating back to the time Patek was trying to restore a Catholic Poland.

During Antoine Norbert de Patek’s later years, Pius IX (1792-1878) was head of the church, from 1846 until his death, and he was an enthusiastic multiple Patek owner – he wore an open-face quarter-repeating 49 mm Patek Philippe made for him in 1866, complete with a caseback polychromatically enameled with his Papal arms and a cuvette engraved “Pater, Rex / Dirigas Intelligentias et Corda, Geneva, 29 June 1867” („Our father, Sovereign, You Give Direction to the Spirit and the Heart”). This watch was sold at auction in 1989 and can now be seen at the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva. Pope Pius IX also owned a silver open-face Patek Philippe watch given to him from the Swiss Catholic organization Piusverein in 1877. ”

Source: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/in-depth-a-study-of-holy-horology-or-popes-and-their-patek-philippes

Signed A.H. Rodanet & Cie., this beautifully executed watch was made for the famous 19th century Parisian retailer that specialized in selling timepieces and chronometers. Located at 38 Rue Vivienne, this store was one of the largest retailers at the time in France. A.H. Rodanet & Cie. was one of Patek Philippe’s largest retailers in the late 19th century.

Auguste Hilaire Rodanet (1837-1907) was the son of Julien Hilaire Rodanet and the uncle of Henri Rodanet. Auguste was born on June 5, 1837 in Rochefort Sur Mer and was a watchmaker and retailer as well as Patek Philippe’s representative in France. In 1858 he won a silver medal for a chronometer at the age of 21.
In 1886/1887 Rodanet wrote the book „L’horlogerie astronomique et civile. Ses usages – ses progrès – son enseignement à Paris”, which was published in 1903. In 1890 he founded the brand „Horlogerie Rodanet de Paris”. Auguste Hilaire Rodanet was mayor of the 2nd Arrondissement in Paris from 1904 to 1907 and president of the „Ecole d’Horlogerie”. Rodanet was also received into the Legion of Honour. He died 70 years old in 1907.