Patek Philippe Repeater rare 18K Gold pocket watch, nobility Porter, 1863

A rare, early gent's pocket watch
with quater repeating
Patek Philippe & Cie
Genéve
in 18k gold execution
fine engraved noble coat of arms on reverse side
of the Porter family
and banner with motto:
"Vigilantia et virtute" (By courage and vigilance) date of manufacture: 1863
caliber 19'''
with Patek Philippe extract from the archives
sold on May 13th, 1864

This valuable, high-quality pocket watch was manufactured 157 years ago by noble Geneva manufacturer Patek Philippe. The watch has an early "à goutte" case execution, the spherical shaped pendant is very characteristic for the early time of manufacture. The filigree elaborated slide for triggering the repetition mechanism is remarkable. The engraved Porter family crest decorates the back side of the case, it shows a heraldic Antelope's head with an ornamental bell in the middle of the neck. The fine, very clearly structured enamel dial with Roman hours and outer Arabic minutes is fixed from the front with two small screws at the quarter hour markers "3" and "9". Particularly noteworthy of this pocket watch is the high quality execution of the repeater mechanism. The plate, bridges and cock are made of "Argentan" a alloy that corresponds to nickel silver or German silver. All bridges and the cock are bevelled. The scope of bevelled watch parts used early to be a sign of quality for a watch. The movement is decorated with Geneva stripes, in addition the plate in the area of ¿¿the balance and the escape wheel is elaborate pearled. Wolfteeth winding wheels are very finely matted. Ruby endstones on the balance, lever and escape wheel indicate the high quality of the movement. The escape-wheel cock carries an additional cover plate to limit the so-called high-frequency of your shafts and to reduce the bearing friction. The very nice sounding quarter repeating will be triggered by a lateral slide at "2" and sounds via 2 hammers and 2 gongs.

The Porter family is of some importance in early nineteenth century literary and artistic life, in addition to their connections with Durham. Willian Porter (1735-1779), their father, was descended from the seventeenth century Royalist, Endymion Porter, and served for many years in the Sixth Inniskilling Dragoons, staying latterly at Durham where he died and was buried in St. Oswald's churchyard. He married Jane Blenkinsop (1745-1831), a daughter of Robert Blenkinsop of Durham, and fathered five children, two of whom were born at Durham and all of whom spent some time here. The eldest was John Porter (1772-1810), subsequently a Colonel, and the second William Ogilvie (1774-1850), M.D., a naval surgeon who after retirement practised for over forty years in Bristol and was the author of two small works on typhus and on medical ethics, as well as the novel noticed above. The eldest daughter was Jane (1776-1850), a prolific and popular novelist and less successful dramatist, whose younger brother was Robert Ker (1777-1842), a historical and military painter and traveller who wrote books of travel and was subsequently knighted and awarded other honours by several foreign governments. The youngest, Anna Maria (1780-1832), was born at Durham like her brother Robert and was also, like Jane, a prolific novelist.

Details on the watch
Dial
enamel
radial Roman numerals
outer five-minute divisions with Arabic numerals
early Breguet hands
very good condition, small chipping on the screw at "9"

Movement
bridge movement
nickel silver / German silver
Geneva stripe decoration
plate partially pearled
lever escapement
blued screws
gilded train
wolfteeth winding wheels
gold screw compensation balance
blued Breguet hairspring
fine adjusting device
ruby endstone on balance, lever and escape wheel
the movement it is fully functional and is in a very good working conditioin

Case
18K gold
numbered and signed 18K gold dome
smooth
smooth band
finely engraved noble crest with motto
push back with hinge
diameter approx. 49mm without pendant
total weight of the watch approx. 98 grams
very good condition
The watch is fully functional and is in a very good total condition.