Important Collector's Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Dec 02, 2003

LOT 117

Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 761985, case No. 681520, Ref. 2526, 3 rd generation. Production of this reference started in 1953.Fine, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle.

USD 20,000 - 30,000

EUR 17,000 - 26,000

Sold: USD 24,150

C. two-body, solid, polished, screwed-down case back, concave lugs. D. white enamel with applied yellow goldindexes, auxiliary seconds dial. yellow gold "Dauphine" hands. M. Cal. 12'''-600 AT, stamped with the Geneva QualityHallmark, rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 30 jewels, straight line lever escapement, Gyromax balanceadjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring,micrometer regulator,18K yellow gold rotor. Dial, case, and movement signed. Diam. 35 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3- 01

Good

Notes

Ref. 2526. First launched by Patek Philippe in 1953, this was the first self-winding wrist-watchmodel ever made by the company, with the caliber 12'''-600 AT,bearing the serial number 760'000. It would appear that Patek Philippeproduced the Ref. 2526 in 580 examples, mostly with an enamel dial.The latest automatic movement by Patek Philippe at the time, itbecame the Ref. 3428:- 20 examples in platinum.- 30 examples in white gold.- 50 examples in pink gold.- 480 examples in yellow gold.The Ref. 2526 is a most appealing wristwatch and is highly sought-after by collectors. There have been fourgenerations 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 articular series, only avery few examples ere made with a black dial and even fewer ith Breguet numerals. - 3rd generation: identical to the 2nd gener-ation ut 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 theenamel surface; the enamel is flared around the holes which hold the central hands and the subsidiary seconds hand. The very firstwristwatch of this series, Ref. 2526, which is also the first self-winding wristwatch ever Made by Patek Philippe, is illustrated in "Collecting Patek Philippe Watches", by Madeleine and Osvaldo Patrizzi, GuidoMondani Editore, Genova, 2000, p. 127. Similar watches are published in "Patek Philippe Wristwatches", by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, 1998, pp. 213-214 and 216-217.