This watch is extremely rare for its pink gold case. During the last decades, no more than two or three pink gold wristwatches Ref. 2499, third series, have appearead on the Market or at Auction. This model bears also the usual concave bezel typical of this series, but it has a rather wide and large flat edge on top of the bezel. Also, the second tachometer graduation comes right to the gold bezel, whereas usually, on regular models, there is a blank space. Provenance - The property of a European collector, since the end of the 80's. - Sold in Naples by Orologeria Trucchi to an Italo-American doctor in 1972 for the price of Italian Lire 6 million, which was then equivalent to SFr. 3'923, or US$ 1,032. Ref. 2499 Produced in 349 examples from 1950 to 1985, with the calibre 13"' CC, among them very few with tachometer, the majority in yellow gold, rarely in pink or white gold. - First series: from 1951 to circa 1960, square buttons, "Feuille" hands, applied Arabic numerals, fluted lugs. A similar watch is published in Patek Philippe Wristwatches, by Martin Huber & 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 "Baton" indexes. - Fourth series: from 1978 to circa 1985, becomes Ref. 2499/100, with the calibre 13"' CCR, round buttons, sapphire crystal, "Dauphine" hands, applied "Baton" indexes. Very few examples were made with tachometer or telemeter scale, and three pieces only with sapphire crystal hack. A similar watch is published in Patel? Philippe Wristwatches, by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, 1998 Edition, p. 302. Two examples is known to date in platinum, one was sold by Antiquorum, Geneva, on April 9, 1989, The Art of Patek Philippe, lot 34, for SFr. 418'000 (US$$ 253,300). Orologeria Trucchi Founded in Naples on January 2, 1907, Orologeria Trucchi is one of the oldest watch restorers and retailers of fine timepieces in Southern Italy and enjoys and excellent reputation. Trucchi was first established in Piazza Trieste e Trento 49 (then called Piazza S. Ferdinando) in the same premises as today. All records of repair and sales were diligently kept in the firm's books of which even the very earliest register has survived. These registers read much like a diary of Neapolitan life from the beginning of this century to present day and impressively, more often than not, the names of clients are preceded by their aristocratic title. Trucchi's was certainly a shop favoured by the aristocracy and had been named official supplier to the Royal Family by S.A.R. it Principe di Piemonte. The Prince had also entrusted Cesare Trucchi with the maintenance and upkeep of all the timepieces in the Palazzo Reale. Although such esteem on the part of the Royal Family and the aristocracy was excellent for the firm's image and a trump card for Trucchi until the 2nd World War, after the conflict, things were quite different and business suffered a little. The newly restructured and emerging post-war Neapolitan society took a while to understand that Trucchi's products and services were no longer out of bounds to them. However, by then, the second generation of Trucchi was, in charge of the shop and they encouraged the new clientele by arousing Neapolitan curiosity and creating a watch marked with the firm's name, which could be retailed at attractive prices. Consequently, business flourished again. The present owner, Aldo Trucchi, retailer of Patek Philippe watches, has continued the business in the Trucchi tradition with success. He has kept the shop with its antique furnishings for he is a strong believer in the beauty of all things antique, or in his own words: antico e hello.