Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Noga Hilton, Oct 16, 2005

LOT 196

?Yellow Gold Screwed Back 2438 ? 1? Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 888100, case No. 687965, Ref. 2438-1. Produced circa 1958. Extremely fine and rare, astronomic, center-seconds, water-resistant, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with perpetual calendar, moon phases and an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

CHF 350,000 - 450,000

EUR 230,000 - 300,000 / USD 285,000 - 325,000

C. Two-body, solid, solid, polished, screwed-down case back, concave bezel, fluted lugs, recessed crown with Calatrava cross. D. Matte silver with applied yellow gold indexes, auxiliary dial for the date, apertures for the days of the week, the months and the moon phases. Yellow gold "dauphine" hands. M. 27-SC Q, stamped with the Seal of Geneva Quality Mark, rhodium plated, ?fausses côtes? decoration, 18 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and five positions, shock-absorber, blued steel Breguet balance-spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 37 mm. Thickness 13 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-6-01

Good

Slightly oxidized

HANDS Original

Notes

Ref. 2497 & 2438-1 Total number produced: 179 examples. Ref. 2497 Production of this reference began in 1951. It was produced in quantities not precisely known today. The standard production was yellow gold; very few examples are known in pink gold; two examples are known in white gold; and two in platinum. - First series: with alternating upright applied gold Arabic numerals and dot indexes, center-seconds and "feuille" hands. Diam. 37 mm. - Second series: alternating upright applied gold Arabic numerals and dot indexes, center-seconds and "dauphine" hands. Diam. 37 mm. - Third series: with applied gold bâton indexes, flat back, recessed winding crown and "dauphine" hands. Diam. 37 mm. Ref 2438-1 Was the successor to Ref. 2497, with the same type of case, but water-resistant. - First series: in yellow gold with applied Arabic numerals, "dauphine" hands, fluted lugs, screwed back. - Second series: with applied "bâton" indexes, "dauphine" hands, fluted lugs, screwed back. Similar watches are published in "Patek Philippe Wristwatches", by Martin Huber and Alan Banbery, 1998, p. 285-287.