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Lot Essay
Quite simply one of the finest Fourth Series 2499/100s to ever be offered at auction, the present watch has been consigned by an important collector and has not been offered to the market in almost 20 years. Safely locked away for most of the intervening time it remains in absolutely immaculate condition, the case exhibiting the highly charismatic patination of the gold that is a sure and infallible sign of having remained untouched for many years. The superbly full and sharp case proportions and clear crisp hallmarks display in a most impressive manner how a reference 2499/100 looked when it was first purchased over 35 years ago. The dial, made from a solid gold plate, is in as pristine condition as the case having been cleaned when the watch was fully serviced in 1987, quite probably by the master dial maker who originally made it. Furthermore, the original Certificate of Origin accompanies the watch and is dated in Patek’s alphabetic code for October 1983.
To find a reference 2499/100 in such superb condition with original certificate is almost impossible today, indeed it is almost four years ago that the last comparable example appeared at auction, that watch was sold by Christie’s Geneva, 11th May, 2015, lot 308, for 641,000 Swiss Francs.
The present watch has the distinction of being one of the small number of reference 2499/100s to have been made entirely in-house with case made by Ateliers Rèunis S.A. (master casemaker’s mark 28 in a key), the watch case making company bought by Patek Philippe in the 1970s. Watches from this distinguished group are known by collectors as “Mark II last series” and are doubly significant in being both the final model of the legendary reference 2499 but also in being the first of Patek Philippe’s complicated watches to be cased entirely in-house.
During 1982, some way into production, the last reference 2499/100 was cased by the subcontractor Wenger S.A., who had until then made the cases for all reference 2499s and 2499/100s. During 1982, it was decided that the last watches of reference 2499/100 would be cased in-house.
The first case made by Ateliers Réunis S.A. for the new series was no. 2,792,095 made in 1982, (sold at Christie’s New York, 6th December, 2018, lot 77). The last one was no. 2,817,877, made in platinum, completed in 1989 and never sold. It is now in the Patek Philippe Museum (Inv. P-711).
The reference 2499 has come to epitomize Patek Philippe as a brand, the very essence of the horological legend. These timepieces have become icons of watch collecting and are now widely considered to be wearable works of art — the ultimate of all prizes for any collector and a symbol of the highest discernment.
The present watch with its original Certificate cannot fail to impress even the most discriminating collector.
We are grateful to Eric Tortella for his assistance and study in researching this watch.
Reference 2499
Widely acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest-ever vintage watch models, the 2499 has exerted a strong influence on the designs of many of the most renowned watchmakers. Over a period of 35 years, the 2499 was made in four separate series in a total production of only 349 pieces, the majority cased in yellow gold. A 2499 is considered the ultimate statement watch today, instantly recognizable and coveted by collectors of modern and vintage alike.
Reference 2499 is generally divided into the following four series:
- first series: square chronograph buttons, applied Arabic numerals and tachometer scale
- second series: round chronograph buttons, either applied baton or applied Arabic numerals and tachometer scale
- third series: round chronograph buttons, applied baton numerals and outer seconds divisions
- fourth series: the present watch: round chronograph buttons, applied baton numerals, outer seconds divisions and sapphire crystal
The reference 2499 is illustrated in: Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 302 & 304, and Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches Vol. II, pp. 306-307.
To find a reference 2499/100 in such superb condition with original certificate is almost impossible today, indeed it is almost four years ago that the last comparable example appeared at auction, that watch was sold by Christie’s Geneva, 11th May, 2015, lot 308, for 641,000 Swiss Francs.
The present watch has the distinction of being one of the small number of reference 2499/100s to have been made entirely in-house with case made by Ateliers Rèunis S.A. (master casemaker’s mark 28 in a key), the watch case making company bought by Patek Philippe in the 1970s. Watches from this distinguished group are known by collectors as “Mark II last series” and are doubly significant in being both the final model of the legendary reference 2499 but also in being the first of Patek Philippe’s complicated watches to be cased entirely in-house.
During 1982, some way into production, the last reference 2499/100 was cased by the subcontractor Wenger S.A., who had until then made the cases for all reference 2499s and 2499/100s. During 1982, it was decided that the last watches of reference 2499/100 would be cased in-house.
The first case made by Ateliers Réunis S.A. for the new series was no. 2,792,095 made in 1982, (sold at Christie’s New York, 6th December, 2018, lot 77). The last one was no. 2,817,877, made in platinum, completed in 1989 and never sold. It is now in the Patek Philippe Museum (Inv. P-711).
The reference 2499 has come to epitomize Patek Philippe as a brand, the very essence of the horological legend. These timepieces have become icons of watch collecting and are now widely considered to be wearable works of art — the ultimate of all prizes for any collector and a symbol of the highest discernment.
The present watch with its original Certificate cannot fail to impress even the most discriminating collector.
We are grateful to Eric Tortella for his assistance and study in researching this watch.
Reference 2499
Widely acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest-ever vintage watch models, the 2499 has exerted a strong influence on the designs of many of the most renowned watchmakers. Over a period of 35 years, the 2499 was made in four separate series in a total production of only 349 pieces, the majority cased in yellow gold. A 2499 is considered the ultimate statement watch today, instantly recognizable and coveted by collectors of modern and vintage alike.
Reference 2499 is generally divided into the following four series:
- first series: square chronograph buttons, applied Arabic numerals and tachometer scale
- second series: round chronograph buttons, either applied baton or applied Arabic numerals and tachometer scale
- third series: round chronograph buttons, applied baton numerals and outer seconds divisions
- fourth series: the present watch: round chronograph buttons, applied baton numerals, outer seconds divisions and sapphire crystal
The reference 2499 is illustrated in: Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 302 & 304, and Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches Vol. II, pp. 306-307.