Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the manufacture of the present watch in 1956 and its subsequent sale on 2 March 1957. Furthermore delivered with the original fitted presentation box.
The present watch is believed to be one of less than 15 examples of reference 2526 in white gold to appear at auction to date. It is furthermore the only white gold reference 2526 known to date featuring twelve diamond hour markers whereas the other recorded examples are fitted with only four diamond numerals combined with white gold baton indexes. Another particularly noteworthy feature is the rather unusually positioned signature on the dial, just beyond the 12 o'clock index. One can only speculate about the reason but one plausible explanation may be that this was made upon a specific request with the intention of placing a retailer's signature underneath.
Reference 2526, introduced in 1953, was Patek Philippe's first model featuring a self-winding movement, the legendary calibre 12-600 AT. With its attractive combination of a state of the art movement, the white gold case and highly attractive diamond-set dial, the present watch is a very desirable collectors' item.
Other examples of reference 2526 are illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition pp. 168-169, second edition pp. 213, 216-217.
The present watch is believed to be one of less than 15 examples of reference 2526 in white gold to appear at auction to date. It is furthermore the only white gold reference 2526 known to date featuring twelve diamond hour markers whereas the other recorded examples are fitted with only four diamond numerals combined with white gold baton indexes. Another particularly noteworthy feature is the rather unusually positioned signature on the dial, just beyond the 12 o'clock index. One can only speculate about the reason but one plausible explanation may be that this was made upon a specific request with the intention of placing a retailer's signature underneath.
Reference 2526, introduced in 1953, was Patek Philippe's first model featuring a self-winding movement, the legendary calibre 12-600 AT. With its attractive combination of a state of the art movement, the white gold case and highly attractive diamond-set dial, the present watch is a very desirable collectors' item.
Other examples of reference 2526 are illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition pp. 168-169, second edition pp. 213, 216-217.