Important Collector's Wristwatches, P...
New York, Sep 17, 2009
LOT 401
Ref. 2526, Black Dial First Generation Patek Philippe, Genève, No. 761695, case No. 687316, Ref. 2526. Made in 1955, sold on October 26th, 1955. Very fine and rare, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives. To be sold without reserve
USD 60,000 - 90,000
EUR 42,000 - 65,000 / CHF 65,000 - 100,000
Sold: USD 74,400
C. Two-body, solid, polished, screwed-down case back, concave lugs. D. Black with applied yellow gold faceted baton indexes, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds dial. Yellow gold dauphine hands. M. Cal. 12-600 AT, stamped with the Seal of Geneva quality mark, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 30 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, Gyromax balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator, 18K yellow gold rotor. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 35 mm. Thickness 11 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: |
|
Case: 3 |
Good |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 2-01 |
Very good HANDS Original |
Notes
Ref. 2526. First launched by Patek Philippe in 1953, this was the first self-winding wristwatch model ever made by the company, with the caliber 12'''- 600 AT, bearing the serial number 760,000. It would appear that Patek Philippe produced the Ref. 2526 in 580 examples, mostly with an enamel dial. The latest automatic movement by Patek Philippe at the time, it became the Ref. 3428. The Ref. 2526 is a most appealing wristwatch and is highly sought-after by collectors. There have been four generations of this model which have evolved as follows: - 1st generation: domed screw back, beige enamel dial with applied indexes. The enamel is flared around the holes which hold the indexes, the central hands and the subsidiary seconds hand. - 2nd generation: domed screw back, beige enamel dial with applied indexes. The indexes are inlaid in the enamel surface; the enamel is flared around the holes which hold the central hands and the subsidiary seconds hand. In this particular series, only a very few examples were made with a black dial and even fewer with Breguet numerals. - 3rd generation: identical to the 2nd generation but with a practically flat screw back. Very few examples of this series were produced with a black dial, and only one with a black dial and Breguet numerals is known to date. - 4th generation: practically flat screw back, beige enamel dial with applied indexes. The indexes are luminescent and inlaid in the enamel surface; the enamel is flared around the holes which hold the central hands and the subsidiary seconds hand. Similar watches are published in "Patek Philippe Wristwatches,? by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, 1998, pp. 213-214 and 216-217.