Patek Philippe Lady's Watch Set, ca. 1900
Watch
APPRAISER:
You tell me that this was your grandmother's watch?
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
There is an inscription in the watch.
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
And what does it say?
GUEST:
It says "Elizabeth Purse, Providence."
APPRAISER:
And what do you know about the watch?
GUEST:
I really don't know a whole lot. I know it belonged to my grandmother, and when I was little, it was always in my parents' safety deposit box. And that's about all I know about it.
APPRAISER:
So you haven't worn it very much?
GUEST:
No, not at all.
APPRAISER:
Not at all. The watch was made in Switzerland by the preeminent watchmaker Patek Philippe in Geneva. It's the finest brand of completely handmade watches in the world. This watch is sort of a tour de force of anything that a woman could have wanted to wear around 1900 for a dress pendant watch. First off, the watch is 18-karat gold. The watch is surrounded by diamonds. There's beautiful blue enameling, probably done in France. There's a diamond-encrusted fleur de lis. The bale is completely encrusted in diamonds on both sides. The chain will come off, and the fleur de lis pin can go on. The chain is 18-karat gold. The chain has natural pearls, blue enamel and diamonds. It's absolutely fabulous. The fleur de lis is all rose-cut and mine-cut diamonds, blue enamel, 18-karat gold. It all matches. The face of the watch is also a blue enamel with the fabulous words, "Patek Philippe and Company."
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
Also encrusted with diamonds all the way around the face. So you have diamonds on both sides-- here, there, all through there, and into there. The market today on Patek Philippe is very, very strong. Each couple years, things come in and out of favor, but the brand Patek really never goes out. Today, at a gallery, a watch like this with its matching parts would easily be priced at retail in the $15,000 to $20,000 range.
GUEST:
Oh, wow.
APPRAISER:
It's an unbelievable pendant. You're going to have to wear it to a party now.
GUEST:
I will.
Appraisal Details
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