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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with raised pink gold hour markers and tachymetre scale in 1940 and its subsequent sale on 12 May 1941.
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with raised pink gold hour markers and tachymetre scale in 1940 and its subsequent sale on 12 May 1941.
This Astrua-retailed reference 530 is one of the most impressive oversized chronographs by Patek Philippe - all references and case version combined. Offered here for the first time ever at auction in its entire life, it immediately captures the attention of any collector with a strong sense for quality, esthetics and rarity.
In fact, the watch has a level of freshness and purity which one seldom sees in watches offered at auction. The dial was never restored, shows wonderfully its 70 years of age with a warm off-white patina. The black enamel scales are correct for the period and have never been touched up. The case, amazingly, appears to be in close to factory finish condition with full proportions to the lugs and a sharp and strong angle to the top plate to the bezel. The top surface to the lugs are still displaying the original satin finish pointing towards the bracelet. The crown is original and so it is the rose gold crown! Needless to mention the crispness of the hallmarks which have never seen a polish
In today's world where originality is the key word for collectors and at a time when every car collector is aspiring to win a concours d'élégance trophy in the preservation class, this rose gold "five-thirty" is simply the right answer to this unstoppable trend. Showing a few small marks on the case and on the dial, it effortlessly outperforms its flaws by its sheer top condition and originality.
This reference 530 isn't "just" a must have for collectors thanks to its condition, but is furthermore one of just over a dozen of known rose gold examples of this mythical reference and the only one with an Astrua - Torino signature. Only one other reference 530 in rose gold is known to the public with a retailer signature - however Gobbi in Milano. This latter watch was sold at Christie's in Geneva in November 2012 and has been sold, thanks to its rarity, appeal and excellent condition, at a world-record price for a rose gold reference 530 to a European collector.
Reference 530 was introduced to the market in 1937 and is one of Patek Philippe's rarest chronograph models, the majority cased in yellow gold, few examples in pink gold or in stainless steel. This celebrated model is the larger version of the better known reference 130, Patek Philippe's classic chronograph retaining the timeless Calatrava design. However, reference 530 stands out by its impressive diameter overshadowing its smaller "sister model" by a substantial 4 mm. The yellow gold and the stainless steel models of this reference are known to have been made with two different bracelet widths between the lugs (19 mm. or 21.5 mm.), the wider version being more coveted by collectors. Interestingly, research shows that the pink gold examples exist only with one case type (19 mm.).
Reference 530 is certainly one of the most exclusive and attractive collector watches a connoisseur can aspire to. Examples of such high quality, like the present one, are considered trophies and offer everything watch collectors define as paramount: style, mechanics, exclusivity and condition.
Reference 530 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second édition, p. 265.
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with raised pink gold hour markers and tachymetre scale in 1940 and its subsequent sale on 12 May 1941.
This Astrua-retailed reference 530 is one of the most impressive oversized chronographs by Patek Philippe - all references and case version combined. Offered here for the first time ever at auction in its entire life, it immediately captures the attention of any collector with a strong sense for quality, esthetics and rarity.
In fact, the watch has a level of freshness and purity which one seldom sees in watches offered at auction. The dial was never restored, shows wonderfully its 70 years of age with a warm off-white patina. The black enamel scales are correct for the period and have never been touched up. The case, amazingly, appears to be in close to factory finish condition with full proportions to the lugs and a sharp and strong angle to the top plate to the bezel. The top surface to the lugs are still displaying the original satin finish pointing towards the bracelet. The crown is original and so it is the rose gold crown! Needless to mention the crispness of the hallmarks which have never seen a polish
In today's world where originality is the key word for collectors and at a time when every car collector is aspiring to win a concours d'élégance trophy in the preservation class, this rose gold "five-thirty" is simply the right answer to this unstoppable trend. Showing a few small marks on the case and on the dial, it effortlessly outperforms its flaws by its sheer top condition and originality.
This reference 530 isn't "just" a must have for collectors thanks to its condition, but is furthermore one of just over a dozen of known rose gold examples of this mythical reference and the only one with an Astrua - Torino signature. Only one other reference 530 in rose gold is known to the public with a retailer signature - however Gobbi in Milano. This latter watch was sold at Christie's in Geneva in November 2012 and has been sold, thanks to its rarity, appeal and excellent condition, at a world-record price for a rose gold reference 530 to a European collector.
Reference 530 was introduced to the market in 1937 and is one of Patek Philippe's rarest chronograph models, the majority cased in yellow gold, few examples in pink gold or in stainless steel. This celebrated model is the larger version of the better known reference 130, Patek Philippe's classic chronograph retaining the timeless Calatrava design. However, reference 530 stands out by its impressive diameter overshadowing its smaller "sister model" by a substantial 4 mm. The yellow gold and the stainless steel models of this reference are known to have been made with two different bracelet widths between the lugs (19 mm. or 21.5 mm.), the wider version being more coveted by collectors. Interestingly, research shows that the pink gold examples exist only with one case type (19 mm.).
Reference 530 is certainly one of the most exclusive and attractive collector watches a connoisseur can aspire to. Examples of such high quality, like the present one, are considered trophies and offer everything watch collectors define as paramount: style, mechanics, exclusivity and condition.
Reference 530 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second édition, p. 265.