.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with raised gold hour markers in 1947 and its subsequent sale on 14 September 1948. Furthermore delivered with Cartier Certificate of Authenticity No. GE2011-23 dated 28 February 2011 confirming that the watch was retailed by Cartier in New York in 1948.
Reference 1526, certainly Patek Philippe's most elegant and timeless simple perpetual calendar wristwatch, was launched in 1941. Highly appreciated by collectors, the model is immediately identifiable by its Calatrava-style case. According to literature, as few as 210 examples were made, cased either in yellow or pink gold and only one example in steel, now at Patek Philippe's prestigious watch museum in Geneva.
The present watch is from the second generation of reference 1526, distinguished by the design of the subsidiary seconds indication surrounding the moon phases: it features small hard enamel baton scales as opposed to the Arabic numerals of its predecessor and is "open" towards the moon side whereas the earlier series featured a so-called double "chemin de fer" or "railway" circle.
Distinctly marked with Cartier's hand-stamped five digit reference no. 18394 underneath the lower right lug, the most noteworthy and at the same time also the most evident feature is however the absence of the signature Cartier usually found on the dials of timepieces retailed by the celebrated house. The lack of this "distinction" may be explainable by the special request of its first owner, desiring a more discreet dial version.
Retailed by Cartier in New York in 1948, the present watch is only the third example of a reference 1526 to appear in public presenting this exclusive combination.
Consigned by a private collector and never offered in public before, the present reference 1526 is furthermore distinguished by its very attractive, original overall condition.
Reference 1526 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 282 & 283.
Reference 1526, certainly Patek Philippe's most elegant and timeless simple perpetual calendar wristwatch, was launched in 1941. Highly appreciated by collectors, the model is immediately identifiable by its Calatrava-style case. According to literature, as few as 210 examples were made, cased either in yellow or pink gold and only one example in steel, now at Patek Philippe's prestigious watch museum in Geneva.
The present watch is from the second generation of reference 1526, distinguished by the design of the subsidiary seconds indication surrounding the moon phases: it features small hard enamel baton scales as opposed to the Arabic numerals of its predecessor and is "open" towards the moon side whereas the earlier series featured a so-called double "chemin de fer" or "railway" circle.
Distinctly marked with Cartier's hand-stamped five digit reference no. 18394 underneath the lower right lug, the most noteworthy and at the same time also the most evident feature is however the absence of the signature Cartier usually found on the dials of timepieces retailed by the celebrated house. The lack of this "distinction" may be explainable by the special request of its first owner, desiring a more discreet dial version.
Retailed by Cartier in New York in 1948, the present watch is only the third example of a reference 1526 to appear in public presenting this exclusive combination.
Consigned by a private collector and never offered in public before, the present reference 1526 is furthermore distinguished by its very attractive, original overall condition.
Reference 1526 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 282 & 283.