First Post - Need Some Guidance on a Family Mystery

[destruya]

Okay, some backstory:

My maternal grandfather was in Lucerne Switzerland in mid-August of 1938 (right before things started getting spicy) and bought *two* Patek Philippe watches from E. Gubelin's Lucerne shop. One was (as you'll see in the album) a "Gentleman's modern wristwatch in 18 carat gold case, fine 18 jewelled Patek, Philippe, & Cie movement," but the second watch is where I could use some advice or expertise.

Without further ado, here's the album with the pictures: (apparently I need ten posts to post links, so if someone who sees/replies first could help me with that, I'd appreciate it >.>)

First, the band is hideous, I know, but it is actual gold to reasonably match the watch, which apparently was meant to have a leather band originally. But apparently it was sold WITHOUT a band, and smuggled back into the States in my grandfather's watch pocket because he wanted to pay excise tax on the aforementioned 18 jewel Patek and not THIS watch. As the family mystery goes, this watch was apparently a "prototype" of sorts (I'm just relaying what I've been told for years), with a 22 jewel movement.

It has been worn over the years - mostly as a costume piece. A local jeweler, who discovered the 22 jewel "oddity" offered her something like $20k on the spot about 15 years ago, which she didn't accept.

So, can anyone, at least at a glance, give me a little more to go on? I emailed Patek and they referred me to Henri Stern in NYC. I'm not averse to jumping on the Acela for a night or two in Manhattan, but I'd like to be a little less misinformed before making the trip and outlaying the money to have the watch properly authenticated and serviced.

(The other Patek is in the family safe deposit box but apparently is pretty standard Patek fare)

Thanks in advance for any advice or information.