Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, Ref. 2597, Movement No. 727'302, Case No. 309'769, Manufactured in 1959

Details

Patek Philippe. A Fine and Rare 18k Gold Dual Time Zone Wristwatch
Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, Ref. 2597, Movement No. 727'302, Case No. 309'769, Manufactured in 1959
Movement: Manual, Cal. 12-400 HS, stamped twice with the Geneva Seal, 18 jewels
Dial: Silvered, baton numerals, subsidiary seconds
Case: 18k gold, snap on back, two buttons in the band, 35mm diam.
Accompanied By: A Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming date of sale on April 13, 1962

Provenance

The Property of an Important European Private Collector

Special Notice

This watch is pictured with straps made of endangered or protected animal materials such as alligator or crocodile. These endangered species straps are shown for display purposes only and are not for sale. Christie’s will remove and retain the strap prior to shipment from the sale site. At some sale sites, Christie’s may, at its discretion, make the displayed endangered species strap available to the buyer of the lot free of charge if collected in person from the sale site within 1 year of the date of the auction. Please check with the department for details on a particular lot.

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Lot Essay

The reference 2597 "travel time" was launched in 1958 as a response to the arrival of transatlantic flights in the 1950's, and the need for a watch to quickly switch from home time to local time. Louis Cottier developed a solution for Patek Philippe that used two correction buttons in the band to adjust the position of the hour hand in either direction by exactly one hour while maintaining the correct relationship to the minute hand.

Reference 2597 was produced in two versions, the first featuring an independently adjustable hour hand, like the present watch. The second version included an additional hour hand. The model did not enjoy much commercial success, and production did not continue for long. Nevertheless, Cottier's patented wheel train is today the basis for Patek Philippe's Travel Time reference 5034, launched in 1997.

Examples of both versions of reference 2597 are illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber and Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 238 & 239.

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