Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 18, 1997

LOT 659

Patek Philippe & Cie, Geneve, No. 862850, case No. 628623, Ref. 1518, circa 1943. Extremely fine and very rare astronomic, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with square button chronograph, register and tachometer, perpetual calendar and moon phases.

CHF 250,000 - 300,000

C. massive, polished, concave bezel. D. matt silver with applied yellow gold radial large Arabic numerals + auxiliary seconds and 30 minutes register dials, graduation for the days of the month, outer tachometer graduation, apertures for the days of the week, the months and the lunations. "Feuille " yellow gold hands. M. 13 "' rhodium plated, "fausses cotes " decoration, 23 jewels, lever escapement, monometallic balance, 8 adjustments, selfcompensating Breguet balance-spring, micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 35 mm.


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Grade:
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1-51

As new

Partially reprinted

Notes

A wristwatch is highly desirable for collectors because of its rarity and those details in the case, the dial and the numerals which denote the evolution of style and design. It is the constant search towards an always more refined style, preceding the trends, positioning the product at the avant-garde of the market, that motivates manufacture designers to create unique models as market testers or as special orders from clients. In 27 years of experience in the auctioneering field, we have never seen such an atypical and exclusive dial for a Ref. 1518 as the one featured in this wristwatch with its radial oversize Arabic numerals. It is most unusual for Patek Philippe to produce this type of dial for wristwatches, and in particular for the Ref. 1518 series. Ref. 1518 The Ref. 1518 series was launched in 1941 and ended in 1954. Production, over that period, totalled 281 examples produced mainly in yellow gold. To date, only a few pink gold examples are known, three in stainless steel, and none in white gold or platinum. - First series with applied gold Arabic numerals from 1941. - Second series presented at the Basle Fair in 1942 with enamelled hour indexes, the 12 in applied gold Arabic numerals. - Third series with applied gold indexes, the 12 in applied gold Arabic numerals. - Fourth series with applied gold "Baton" indexes.