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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with raised hour markers in platinum and 14K gold in 1947 and its subsequent sale on 24 October 1949.
Hardly any watch made by Patek Philippe after WWII is as rare as the present reference 725-2 cased in platinum. In fact, in over 30 years of auction, only 3 examples are known to exist. Most notably, one of these watches is today one of the Patek Philippe's Museum centre pieces as originally made for Henry Graves Jr., the firm's celebrated patron and most notable collector.
Throughout the 1940s, platinum was highly limited and its cost astronomically high as a consequence. Only the firm's wealthiest and most demanding clients could afford to buy a platinum watch and even fewer a complicated watch cased in this most noble of all metals. To fully demonstrate the present's watch exclusivity, one has to consider that it was not until the early 1950s when Patek Philippe introduced the first platinum cased wristwatch with perpetual calendar (reference 2497).
The present reference 725-2 is perfect by any standard: its extremely classic and harmonious case proportions are the perfect surrounds for the distinguished silvered dial of immaculate symmetry, most balanced thanks to four vertically and horizontally aligned subsidiary dials for the perpetual calendar and moon indications. The architectural applied numerals, eight in number, are also symmetrically positioned in-between the subsidiary dials. The condition of this gem is as close to mint as any connoisseur could hope for with an immaculate satin finish and crisp hallmark to the stem.
The true connoisseur will immediately recognize the incredible value, historical, technical and esthetical, that this complicated dress watch offers. Most notably, one should also be aware of the commercial value when considering that at this market valuation one cannot find anything comparable to this masterpiece.
Hardly any watch made by Patek Philippe after WWII is as rare as the present reference 725-2 cased in platinum. In fact, in over 30 years of auction, only 3 examples are known to exist. Most notably, one of these watches is today one of the Patek Philippe's Museum centre pieces as originally made for Henry Graves Jr., the firm's celebrated patron and most notable collector.
Throughout the 1940s, platinum was highly limited and its cost astronomically high as a consequence. Only the firm's wealthiest and most demanding clients could afford to buy a platinum watch and even fewer a complicated watch cased in this most noble of all metals. To fully demonstrate the present's watch exclusivity, one has to consider that it was not until the early 1950s when Patek Philippe introduced the first platinum cased wristwatch with perpetual calendar (reference 2497).
The present reference 725-2 is perfect by any standard: its extremely classic and harmonious case proportions are the perfect surrounds for the distinguished silvered dial of immaculate symmetry, most balanced thanks to four vertically and horizontally aligned subsidiary dials for the perpetual calendar and moon indications. The architectural applied numerals, eight in number, are also symmetrically positioned in-between the subsidiary dials. The condition of this gem is as close to mint as any connoisseur could hope for with an immaculate satin finish and crisp hallmark to the stem.
The true connoisseur will immediately recognize the incredible value, historical, technical and esthetical, that this complicated dress watch offers. Most notably, one should also be aware of the commercial value when considering that at this market valuation one cannot find anything comparable to this masterpiece.