Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 10, 2015

LOT 445

PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 2526 ENAMEL DIAL FIRST GENERATION VERY EARLY MOVEMENT NUMBER YELLOW GOLD Patek Philippe, Genève, No. 760050, case No. 674954, Ref. 2526. Made in 1953, sold on August 25th, 1953. Very fine and rare, water-resistant, self-winding, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with enamel dial and an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

CHF 15,000 - 20,000

HKD 120,000 - 160,000 / USD 16,000 - 21,000

Sold: CHF 18,750

Two-body, solid, polished and brushed, rounded stepped bezel, screw down case back, concave lugs. Ivory-color enamel with applied yellow gold faceted baton indexes, outer dot minute divisions, subsidiary seconds. Yellow gold dauphine hands. Cal. 12```-600 AT, stamped with the Seal of Geneva quality mark, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 30 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator, 18K gold rotor.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-71-01

Good

ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Hairlines

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case, and movement signed. DIAM. 36 mm. THICKNESS 11 mm. The present watch is an early example of the Ref . 2526. The dial has some faint hair cracks visible under magnification but nevertheless an attractive example with low movement number. The Extract from the Patek Philippe archives confirms that this watch was made in 1953 and sold on August 25th, 1953. Reference 2526 was introduced in 1953 and was the first self-winding production wristwatch ever made by Patek Philippe. The watch was designed with the celebrated 12'''-600 AT caliber, the first 2526 bearing the serial number 760,000. The present watch with the No. 760050 is therefore the 51st piece made. 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. ? 3rd generation identical to the 2nd generation but with a practically flat screw back. ? 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.