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Lot Essay
This stunning platinum reference 2526 with platinum bracelet and diamond-set dial last appeared on the market almost 20 years ago. Since then it has been a treasured part of one of the world’s greatest watch collections. Christie’s is delighted to present to collectors this exceedingly rare platinum reference 2526 of which it is thought that only 24 examples cased in this exclusive material have appeared in public to date.
In wonderful original condition, the silvered dial displays the beautiful mellowed appearance which is only achieved after decades without intervention, perhaps cleaned only once or twice in its almost 70 years, the engraved enamelled signature and seconds indexes are intact and nicely raised. The diamond numerals, brilliants for the hours and baguettes for the quarters imbue the watch with the feeling of discreet luxury, reassuringly rare and expensive yet understated.
The back of the dial is punch numbered ‘93 320’ under the counter enamel, ‘93’ stands for the client, in this instance Patek Philippe and ‘320’ as the order number when it was requested.
The case, as with all reference 2526, was made by the Geneva master casemaker F. Baumgartner, whose punch mark of number 2 in a key is found inside the back. The most distinguishing features of the 2526 case are its screw back for water-resistance and the beautiful cast gold crown with opposing ‘PP’ design. The heavy platinum bracelet is a superb rarity in its own right and the clasp mirrors the opposing ‘PP’ design of the winding crown perfectly. Although this watch was originally entered in Patek Philippe's archives to have left the manufacture with a leather strap, the present bracelet is from the same period and possibly original to this watch, added upon request from its first owner shortly after its purchase. Indeed, the current Extract from the Archives recognizes the bracelet, stating “the current timepiece has a platinum bracelet”.
The platinum reference 2526 is one of the rarest of all the versions of this classic model. Around 2400 pieces were made in yellow gold, 360 in pink gold, 70 in white gold and 70 in platinum. According to research, 24 platinum watches are now known publicly. The present watch is without doubt one of the finest examples of the reference in platinum to be seen on the market for some considerable time.
Reference 2526, introduced in 1953, was the landmark model to be given the privilege to house the firm's first automatic calibre ever, the now famous 12-600 AT. This state-of-the-art calibre with the main spring wound through the oscillating movements of a massive 18K gold engine-turned rotor is seen by many as the most lavishly finished automatic movement ever conceived by any manufacturer. The calibre 12-600 AT 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".
With its attractive combination of a state of the art movement, the platinum case and highly attractive diamond-set dial, the present watch is an exceptional trophy for the collector of vintage Patek Philippe.
Literature:
Ref. 2526 is illustrated in: Patek Philippe Wristwatches, Huber & Banbery, 1998 edition, pp. 216-217, and calibre 12 600 AT detailed views p. 214.
Reference 2526 is also illustrated in: Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe - Volume II, pp. 244-246.
Another Patek Philippe Ref. 2526 in white gold is described and illustrated in Patek Philippe My Dream Collection by Ali Nael, April 2021 Edition, p. 294-295
In wonderful original condition, the silvered dial displays the beautiful mellowed appearance which is only achieved after decades without intervention, perhaps cleaned only once or twice in its almost 70 years, the engraved enamelled signature and seconds indexes are intact and nicely raised. The diamond numerals, brilliants for the hours and baguettes for the quarters imbue the watch with the feeling of discreet luxury, reassuringly rare and expensive yet understated.
The back of the dial is punch numbered ‘93 320’ under the counter enamel, ‘93’ stands for the client, in this instance Patek Philippe and ‘320’ as the order number when it was requested.
The case, as with all reference 2526, was made by the Geneva master casemaker F. Baumgartner, whose punch mark of number 2 in a key is found inside the back. The most distinguishing features of the 2526 case are its screw back for water-resistance and the beautiful cast gold crown with opposing ‘PP’ design. The heavy platinum bracelet is a superb rarity in its own right and the clasp mirrors the opposing ‘PP’ design of the winding crown perfectly. Although this watch was originally entered in Patek Philippe's archives to have left the manufacture with a leather strap, the present bracelet is from the same period and possibly original to this watch, added upon request from its first owner shortly after its purchase. Indeed, the current Extract from the Archives recognizes the bracelet, stating “the current timepiece has a platinum bracelet”.
The platinum reference 2526 is one of the rarest of all the versions of this classic model. Around 2400 pieces were made in yellow gold, 360 in pink gold, 70 in white gold and 70 in platinum. According to research, 24 platinum watches are now known publicly. The present watch is without doubt one of the finest examples of the reference in platinum to be seen on the market for some considerable time.
Reference 2526, introduced in 1953, was the landmark model to be given the privilege to house the firm's first automatic calibre ever, the now famous 12-600 AT. This state-of-the-art calibre with the main spring wound through the oscillating movements of a massive 18K gold engine-turned rotor is seen by many as the most lavishly finished automatic movement ever conceived by any manufacturer. The calibre 12-600 AT 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".
With its attractive combination of a state of the art movement, the platinum case and highly attractive diamond-set dial, the present watch is an exceptional trophy for the collector of vintage Patek Philippe.
Literature:
Ref. 2526 is illustrated in: Patek Philippe Wristwatches, Huber & Banbery, 1998 edition, pp. 216-217, and calibre 12 600 AT detailed views p. 214.
Reference 2526 is also illustrated in: Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe - Volume II, pp. 244-246.
Another Patek Philippe Ref. 2526 in white gold is described and illustrated in Patek Philippe My Dream Collection by Ali Nael, April 2021 Edition, p. 294-295