Lot 291

Patek Philippe

Fannie May

A very fine, extremely rare Geneva minute repeating pocket watch with split seconds chronograph, sold on October 26th, 1901 - with Patek Philippe extract from the archives

This is an extremely rare and exclusive pocket watch with minute repeater and split-seconds chronograph in a very fine rose gold case. The white enamel dial has beautifully curved Breguet numerals, red minutes, auxiliary seconds with red seconds and gold Louis XV hands. A pusher on the edge of the case and in the crown starts, stops and resets the split seconds chronograph.

According to the dedication engraving on the gold dome, this exquisite timepiece was once a gift to prominent race horse owner and candy chain owner Henry Teller Archibald (1879-1936). Archibald was the owner and president of the chain of candy stores known as the 'Fannie May' in Chicago and Miami and a member of the committee of 100 in Miami to which Harvey Firestone and other notables belong.
Henry Teller Archibald and Mildred King Archibald married in 1901 and separated in 1926, a year after Mildred gave this watch to her husband.