PATEK PHILIPPE YELLOW GOLD AND ENAMEL POCKET WATCH

This elegant men’s watch was made circa 1915 and sold through the Canadian retailer Ryrie-Birks in Toronto. Ryrie Brothers was established in Toronto in 1897 by James Ryrie and his brother Harry Ryrie. In 1905, Ryrie became a subsidiary of Birks. Between 1914-1924, the company operated under the name Ryrie-Birks. After 1924, is was known as only Birks and remains to this day an important Canadian retailer.

The bezel and case back are elegantly engraved and decorated with black enamel. The silvered dial features applied oversized hand-cut gold Breguet numerals, and gold Breguet hands. Note the name of the retailer was engraved by Patek Philippe Geneva on the movement, an elegant flourish that is occasionally seen on watches for the USA and Canadian market during the late 19th and early 20th century. Note the PPC logo hand engraved in relief at the apex of the triangular pendant. It almost predicts the look of the Henri Stern buckles of the 1940s and beyond — coincidence or not?