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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with rose dial and applied rose gold hour markers in 1948 and its subsequent sale on 18 October 1949.
Reference 1526 is one of the most elegant models produced by Patek Philippe. In production from 1940 to 1952, the timeless Calatrava style case marries a minimalist dial daringly ahead of its time. In fact, a similar style of dial layout - with a subsidiary dial at 6 o' clock and openings for day of the week and month at 12 - is destined to come back to Patek Philippe perpetual calendars over the following three decades in many different incarnations, among which the most famous are references 2497, 2438-1, 3448 and 3450.
This reference is one of the scarcest Patek Philippe production models: just a little more than 200 are known to have come out of the company's workshop. Excluding a unique piece in steel, this reference was cased in two metals only: most of the production in yellow gold and a fraction in pink gold. An exceedingly small number of these pink gold 1526 was blessed with the mesmerizing pink dial. Our research shows that no more than 10 pink on pink 1526 appeared on the market over the last 30 years.
The present watch is a remarkable example of this much coveted combination. With the passing of time, the dial has taken a wonderful salmon/copperish hue. The case is very well preserved and retains its original proportions, the lugs having not being subject to polishing, and showcases crisp hallmark on the backside lower right lug.
Reference 1526 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition, p. 215.
Reference 1526 is one of the most elegant models produced by Patek Philippe. In production from 1940 to 1952, the timeless Calatrava style case marries a minimalist dial daringly ahead of its time. In fact, a similar style of dial layout - with a subsidiary dial at 6 o' clock and openings for day of the week and month at 12 - is destined to come back to Patek Philippe perpetual calendars over the following three decades in many different incarnations, among which the most famous are references 2497, 2438-1, 3448 and 3450.
This reference is one of the scarcest Patek Philippe production models: just a little more than 200 are known to have come out of the company's workshop. Excluding a unique piece in steel, this reference was cased in two metals only: most of the production in yellow gold and a fraction in pink gold. An exceedingly small number of these pink gold 1526 was blessed with the mesmerizing pink dial. Our research shows that no more than 10 pink on pink 1526 appeared on the market over the last 30 years.
The present watch is a remarkable example of this much coveted combination. With the passing of time, the dial has taken a wonderful salmon/copperish hue. The case is very well preserved and retains its original proportions, the lugs having not being subject to polishing, and showcases crisp hallmark on the backside lower right lug.
Reference 1526 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition, p. 215.