Quattro's deep dive into Jean-Adrien Philippe's independent dead seconds mechanism offers a fascinating look at Patek Philippe's early horological innovations. This post highlights a significant historical complication, showcasing the intricate engineering that predates modern interpretations. Readers gain insight into the foundational patents and the evolution of precision timekeeping at Patek Philippe.
Around 1847, Jean-Adrien Philippe, co-founder of Patek Philippe, developed a movement with central independent dead seconds based on a Victorin Piguet & Cie ebauche.
The center independent dead seconds hand can be activated on demand via a pusher located on the band of the case (at 4 o'clock if the crown is at 3 o'clock or at 1 o'clock if the crown is at 12 o'clock).
The movement features two barrels with simultaneous winding and two gear trains.
Following the establishment in
Bern in
1888 of a
Swiss patent office, the "
Federal Office of Intellectual Property," this invention was protected there by patent no.
1017 of May 23,
1889.
The caption for the drawing below reads:
“Invention drawing, representing a watch design by Adrien Philippe, with two mainspring barrels and an independent deadbeat seconds hand. Swiss Patent No. 1017 of May 23, 1889.”
This invention is
mentioned at the beginning of a
chapter devoted to the “
other inventions and patented constructions of Adrien Philippe”, that is to say the
inventions different from the
pendant winding system.
credit: Photos of my personal copy of the book by Martin Huber & Alan Banderry, Patek Philippe Genève
(2nd edition, 1993), p. 53
Portrait of Jean Adrien Philippe (1815-1894)
credit: Christie's
Here are some more photos of the movement presented by Uhrmachermeister Mikl
The
movement is
housed in a surprising “
working case” (words of
Antiquorum, by which the watch was sold).
And, of course, the center independent dead seconds hand is completely distinct from the non-independent small seconds.
In the
Patek Philippe Musuem, one can admire
another example of
independent dead seconds pocket watch, which is
housed in a beautiful
rose gold case.
The watch is presented on page 263 of the
Patek Philippe Museum Catalogue, Volume I.
Notice that the catalogue
mentions the
existence of “a
similar watch, No.
80050, [which] was
sold on January 31,
1894, to
Jean Adrien Philippe”...
... and it
happens that this
particular watch no.
80'050 was
sold by
Christie's on
May 13th, 2019.
As stated in the Lot Essay:
“Jean-Adrien Philippe passed away on 5 January 1894.
It is therefore most likely that watch no. 80'050 has been formally purchased from the company by his son Joseph Émile Philippe on 31 January 1894.
Being his father’s watch, he had the date engraved on the cuvette and his monogram "JAP" to the case back, as a memorial to him.”
Notice that,
contrarily to the
previous examples, it
doesn't feature a
small seconds register.
credit: Christie’s
Another example, also
without a
small seconds register at 6 o'clock, is
presented on page 195 of the book by
Martin Huber &
Alan Banderry,
Patek Philippe Genève (2nd edition, 1993).
And
another later example with a
double signed working case (by Italian retailer Hausmann) was sold by
Antiquorum on
October 18th, 1997.
credit: Antiquorum
Lastly, one can also find
examples featuring, in
addition to the
centre independent seconds hand, a
sub register at 6 o'clock with a
1/5th second jumping-hand aka “
diablotine”.
The
example below was sold by
FurtureGrail in November
2025,
Session 1.
credit: FutureGrail
Below is a
similar watch with
movement no.
27.331 (the watch above is no. 27.235), sold by
Antiquorum in
November 2023.
credit: Antiquorum
Just a fascinating page of watchmaking history...
Thanks for reading.
Best, Emmanuel
