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Lot Essay
As a cherished part of an important private collection for nearly a decade, this is only the second time that the present watch has been offered in public and gives collectors the all too rare opportunity to obtain an exemplary pink gold First Series 2526. It is further distinguished by its attractive and wonderfully original overall condition with crisp "S.&L. 18K" stamps to the case back, visible hallmarks and the signature Serpico y Laino to both dial and case back, Patek Philippe's prestigious retailer in Caracas, Venezuela.
The enamel dial of the present watch made by Stern Frères is a superb “textbook” example of the First Series fired hard enamel type in which the dial presents flared holes under each index in order to allow for their setting in two drilled holes secured from the back. Flared holes are also present around the centre for the hands and for the subsidiary seconds. This method of attaching the indexes meant that the enamel dials were both difficult and expensive to produce. Made only for a relatively short period, these first series dials are naturally the most sought after by collectors.
We are grateful to Eric Tortella for his assistance and study in researching this watch.
Reference 2526
Introduced into the market in 1952, reference 2526 was Patek Philippe's first self-winding or automatic watch, starting with movement number 760'000. The model features the legendary calibre 12-600 AT which was granted Swiss patent No. 289758 in 1953 for "a self-winding mechanism for a wristwatch movement using the energy supplied by a rotary mass causing an eccentric part to transmit a swinging movement to an organ of the mechanism".
The majority of reference 2526 was cased in yellow gold, a small series in pink gold and an exceedingly limited number in white gold and platinum. Mainly fitted with enamel dials with applied gold baton numerals, the white gold and platinum examples were also available with silvered metal dials with diamond indexes.
A paragon of understatement and timeless class combined with a state-of-the art movement, reference 2526 has significantly influenced the popularity of wristwatches featuring enamel dials. In 1960, it was replaced by reference 3428, equipped with the second generation self-winding movement, calibre 27-460.
Reference 2526 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe - Volume II, pp. 244-245.
The present watch will be prominently illustrated in: Blue Book 2, study by Eric Tortella, 2019 edition, p. 120-131.
Serpico y Laino
Serpico y Laino was founded in the late 1920s by two Italian immigrants, Leopoldo Serpico and Vicente Laino, a young goldsmith. Initially focusing on jewellery, they soon expanded into watches and became the exclusive distribution agent for Rolex in Venezuela following a meeting with Hans Wilsdorf in Geneva in the early 1930s. Shortly after other brands were added and the firm was appointed the sole authorized retailer for another famous watch manufacturer: Patek Philippe. In 1966, after forty years of flourishing business, the leading watch retailer in Caracas closed.
The enamel dial of the present watch made by Stern Frères is a superb “textbook” example of the First Series fired hard enamel type in which the dial presents flared holes under each index in order to allow for their setting in two drilled holes secured from the back. Flared holes are also present around the centre for the hands and for the subsidiary seconds. This method of attaching the indexes meant that the enamel dials were both difficult and expensive to produce. Made only for a relatively short period, these first series dials are naturally the most sought after by collectors.
We are grateful to Eric Tortella for his assistance and study in researching this watch.
Reference 2526
Introduced into the market in 1952, reference 2526 was Patek Philippe's first self-winding or automatic watch, starting with movement number 760'000. The model features the legendary calibre 12-600 AT which was granted Swiss patent No. 289758 in 1953 for "a self-winding mechanism for a wristwatch movement using the energy supplied by a rotary mass causing an eccentric part to transmit a swinging movement to an organ of the mechanism".
The majority of reference 2526 was cased in yellow gold, a small series in pink gold and an exceedingly limited number in white gold and platinum. Mainly fitted with enamel dials with applied gold baton numerals, the white gold and platinum examples were also available with silvered metal dials with diamond indexes.
A paragon of understatement and timeless class combined with a state-of-the art movement, reference 2526 has significantly influenced the popularity of wristwatches featuring enamel dials. In 1960, it was replaced by reference 3428, equipped with the second generation self-winding movement, calibre 27-460.
Reference 2526 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe - Volume II, pp. 244-245.
The present watch will be prominently illustrated in: Blue Book 2, study by Eric Tortella, 2019 edition, p. 120-131.
Serpico y Laino
Serpico y Laino was founded in the late 1920s by two Italian immigrants, Leopoldo Serpico and Vicente Laino, a young goldsmith. Initially focusing on jewellery, they soon expanded into watches and became the exclusive distribution agent for Rolex in Venezuela following a meeting with Hans Wilsdorf in Geneva in the early 1930s. Shortly after other brands were added and the firm was appointed the sole authorized retailer for another famous watch manufacturer: Patek Philippe. In 1966, after forty years of flourishing business, the leading watch retailer in Caracas closed.