The Art of Patek Philippe, Legendary ...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 14, 1999

LOT 534

Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 888085,case No. 683855, Ref. 2497, first series, circa 1958.Very fine and rare, centre-seconds, astronomic,18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with perpetual calendar and moon phases, leather strap and 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle, in original brown leather fitted box.

CHF 100,000 - 120,000

Sold: CHF 108,000

C. three body, massive, polished, concave bezel.D. matte silver with applied yellow gold indexes, auxiliary dials for the days of the month, apertures for the days of the week, the months and the moon phases. "Feuille" yellow gold hands. M. Cal. 27-SC Q, punched with the Poinçons de Genève, rhodium plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 18 jewels, lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance adjusted to heat, cold isochronism and 5 positions, shock-absorber, Breguet balance spring, micrometer regulator.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 37 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: * 4 - 5
Dial: 3 - 6 - 01

Notes

Ref. 2497 and 2438-1From 1951 to 1963, only 179 examples of these two models were produced with the calibre 27-SC Q bearing the serial number 888'000; the majority were made in yellow gold, with very few in pink gold, and, to date, only one is known in platinum.This watch made in 1953 (movement 888'029) was sold by Antiquorum, Hong Kong, June 9-10, 1997, lot 199, forHK$ 5,850,000 (US$ 754,850 - SFr. 1'083'000).The Ref. 2438-1 with screwed back was produced in very small quantities; to our knowledge, only three examples were made in pink gold. One of these watches was sold by Antiquorum, Geneva, November 1, 1998, lot 465, sold for SFr. 498'500(US$ 380'535).Ref. 2497, started in 1951- First series from 1951 to 1958 with applied Arabic numerals and "Feuille" hands.- Second series from 1958 to 1960 with applied Arabic numerals and "Dauphine" hands.- Third series with applied gold indexes and "Dauphine" hands.Ref. 2438-1, started in 1952- First series 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 & Alan Banbery, 1998 Edition, pp. 284-287.Poinçons de GenèveThe voluntary quality control of watches at the Geneva Observatory, was established by a law dated November 6, 1886. Conditions were laid down for the attribution and stamping of the Poinçons de Genève, punch-marks designed as the coat-of-arms of Geneva. Pocket watches, or wristwatches which carry the Poinçons de Genève, considered as an equivalent to a Bulletin Officiel de Marche, punched on a bridge and on the main plate of the movement, were qualified to be officially termed "chronometers".