Important Collectors’ Wristwatches an...

Hôtel Plaza Athénée - Le Trianon, Sep 28, 2005

LOT 311

"1526 Small Arabic" Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 926669, case No. 641808, Ref. 1526, second series. Made in the 1940s, sold on June 19, 1947. Very fine and very rare, astronomic, 18K yellow gold gentleman?s wristwatch with perpetual calendar, moon phases, small Arabic numerals, and an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by a fitted box, certificate, additional mainspring and the original bill of purchase. Recently serviced by Patek Philippe.

USD 80,000 - 110,000

EUR 65,000 - 80,000

Sold: USD 119,400

C. Three-body, solid, polished, concave bezel. D. Matte silver with applied yellow gold small Arabic numerals and dot indexes, subsidiary seconds dial, concentric graduation for the days of the month, apertures for the days of the week, the months and the moon phases. Yellow gold ?feuille? hands. M. Cal. 12???-120 QP, rhodium-plated, ?fausses côtes? decoration, 18 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, Breguet balance-spring, ?swan-neck? micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 34 mm. Thickness 12 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image

Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good

Movement: 2

Very good

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Ref. 1526 Produced in 210 examples from 1941 to 1952, with the Caliber 12???-120 QP, the majority in yellow gold, rarely in pink gold, with only one example known to date in stainless steel.- First series with indirect center-seconds produced in very few examples. One of these watches was sold by Antiquorum Geneva in the thematic auction ?The Art of Patek Philippe?, April 9, 1989, lot 203.- Second series with concentric subsidiary dials for the seconds and the days of the month. The dials for the second series of this reference are known to date with 3 different designs: - the seconds division scale on the outside of the subsidiary date dial are quite rare - the seconds division on the inside of the subsidiary dial - the seconds division only on the bottom portion of the subsidiary dial, below the moon phase aperture. The applied gold upright Arabic numbers are of two kinds: - the larger type, more common - the smaller type, as the present watch, much rarer. A similar watch is published in Patek Philippe Wristwatches, by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, 1998 Edition, pp. 282-283.