Patek Philippe Pocket Watch Lepine Katagami Ref. 992/178J

The Patek Philippe Pocket Watch 992/178J is a unique piece created for the 2023 Patek Philippe Tokyo exhibition. This unique piece was inspired by the art of the “katagami”: the stencils used to decorate fabrics with motifs such as the vine leaves depicted here, much loved in Japan for their beauty. The case back, whose graphic allusion to a paper cut-out recalls the katagami, was first hand engraved with a pattern of vertical grooves using line engraving and chased to obtain alternating matt and shining finishes suggesting textile fibers. It was then coated with translucent green enamel; a process requiring 7 firings at a temperature of 800°C. Finally, it was adorned with delicately engraved gold appliques representing vine leaves. A dial embellished with the same hand-engraved motif as the case back was coated with Grand Feu cloisonné enamel and green translucent and opaque enamels. An emerald cabochon (0.37 ct) embellishes the crown.