CZAPEK GILT BRASS CARRIAGE CLOCK

It is a great honor to present this historically important carriage clock made by one of the founders of Patek Philippe, François Czapek. Like Patek, Czapek was a dissident who had fled Poland for Geneva in 1831. It was Czapek’s watchmaking skills that encouraged Patek to become partners and start the company in 1839. However, their relationship disintegrated and by 1845 Patek found another watchmaking genius to partner with: Adrien Philippe. Czapek moved to France and continued as a successful watchmaker, opening a store in the same location where the Cartier boutique now stands on Place Vendôme. It was from this period, around 1860, that Czapek made this exquisite carriage clock.

A clock made by Czapek is extremely rare as he concentrated on making the finest pocket watches. In fact, there are only three known clocks to have ever been made by Czapek. An exceptional clock such as this one was probably made for an extremely important client, possibly Napoleon III, for whom Czapek became Purveyor to the Imperial Court, Watchmaker of His Imperial Highness, Prince Napoleon. This carriage clock features a grande and petite sonnerie which chime automatically or can be silenced. If the owner needs to know the time in the dark, the simple press of a button at the top of the clock case activates the chime. Another rare complication is the inclusion of an alarm.

The elegant, gilt brass case is known as a ‘gorge-case’, a style which was used only for the finest clocks. The name denotes a case design in which both the case and the pillars are deeply grooved. Very few such case designs are highly engraved such as this example.  The back of the dial is signed by by Czapek’s own hand, a florish he was known to do only if he felt the clock or watch warranted this special endorsement.

This carriage clock still has its original key marked 5422, the same serial number that is marked on the movement and the dial, a testament to how well-cared for this clock has been. The delicate chime of the grand and petite sonneries are still as crystal clear as when Czapek made this masterpiece over 160 years ago. This extremely rare, museum-worthy masterpiece by one of the greatest names in watchmaking history is now available to grace any special collection.

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