Exceptional Horological Works of Art

Geneva, Oct 19, 2002

LOT 82

Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 868248, case No. 665024, Ref. 2499, first series, retailed by Frec-cero, made in 1951, sold on September 29, 1955. Production of this reference started in 1951. Exceptional and highly important astronomic, 18K pink gold gentleman's wristwatch with square button chronograph, 30-minute register, internal pulsometer, perpetual calendar and moon phases, with 18K pink gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accom-panied by the "Extrait des Registres".

CHF 1 - 1

EUR 1 - 1

Sold: CHF 3,193,500

C. three-body, solid, polished, concave bezel, fluted curved lugs, sapphire crystal. D. matte silver with applied pink gold Arabic numerals, auxiliary dials for the seconds, the 30-minute register, graduation for the days of the month, outer pulsometer graduation for 15 pulsations, apertures for the days of the week, the months and the moon phases. Pink gold "Feuille" hands. M. Cal. 13 ''' CC, rhodium-plated, "fausses-côtes" decoration, 23 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, 8 adjustments, Breguet balance-spring, micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 38 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 3

Good
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

This reference, very rarely found in rose gold, is made rarer still by its inner pulsometer dial with upright indications, located on the inner portion of the dial instead of the more usual placement along the outer circumference. Equally remarkable is the perfection of the case?s design and the purity of its lines and angles, as well as the rare beauty of the dial. We know of only one other example with the same type of dial: a split-seconds chronograph, reference 1436, sold by Antiquorum on March 31, 2001, lot 584. Ref. 2499 Produced in 349 examples from 1951 to 1985, very few with tachometer, the majority in yellow gold, and some examples are in pink or white gold. Calibre 13'''CC: - First series: From 1951 to circa 1960, square buttons, "Feuille" hands, applied Arabic numerals, fluted lugs. This watch is published in "Patek Philippe Wristwatches", by Martin Huber and Alan Banbery, 1998 Edition, p. 304. - Second series: Square buttons, "Dauphine" hands, applied indexes, the 12 in Arabic numerals. - Third series: From 1960 to 1978, round buttons, crystal glass, "Dauphine" or "Feuille" hands, applied "Bâton" indexes. Calibre 13''' CCR: - Fourth series: From 1978 to circa 1985, becomes Ref. 2499/100, round buttons, sapphire crystal, "Dauphine hands", applied "Bâton" indexes. Very few examples were made with tachometer or telemeter scale and three pieces only with sapphire crystal back. For this series, models with the tachometer indication are extremely rare. A similar watch is published in "Patek Philippe Wristwatches", by Martin Huber and Alan Banbery, 1998 Edition, page 302 and in "Collecting Patek Philippe Watches" by M. and O. Patrizzi, Guido Mondani Editore, Genova, 2000 Edition, p. 296 , pl . 476A. Two examples are known to date in platinum, one was sold by Antiquorum Geneva, on April 9, 1989, "The Art of Patek Philippe", lot 34.