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Lot Essay
One of the best yellow gold reference 2497 to appear on the market, this formidable first series example is a true collector's piece, that will delight the future owner with its strong and generous case proportions, well defined stepped lugs and clear hallmarks. The silvered dial, made by Stern Frères on a solid gold plate, is in very good overall condition. The two different series of reference 2497 are easily distinguished by their varying dial layouts: the first, such as the present watch, featuring applied Arabic and dot numerals and feuille hands, the second with applied baton numerals and dauphine hands.
Reference 2497 is without a doubt among the rarest, most attractive and important vintage complicated wristwatch models by Patek Philippe. It was in production from 1951 to 1963, and over these 12 years a meagre 115 pieces were made in total. It is powered by the 27SC Q movement, a perpetual calendar upgrade (Q stands for Quantième Perpétuel) of the best manually wound centre seconds movement of the time: 27 SC (SC for Second au Centre). In fact, a specific movement number range was reserved for these movements: from 888’000 to 888’178. This means a total of 179 movements, 115 of them used for reference 2497 and the rest for its waterproof sister model, reference 2438/1.
The case of reference 2497 is a virtual carbon copy of the case of reference 2499, without of course the chronograph pushers. As with reference 2499, the case design presents an evolution over time. The first 40 or 50 cases including the present watch were made by Emile Vichet (maker’s mark 9 in a key), the best casemaker of the period who was responsible for casing several other of Patek Philippe’s golden age classics including the 1518 and early series 2499s. The first series Vichet cases are identifiable from their longer, more elongated lugs which feature a prominent curve, the casebacks have a flat centre. The later pieces were cased by Wenger and feature a domed case back and slightly less distinctly curved lugs.
Reference 2497
Produced between 1951 and 1963, reference 2497 was officially launched at the Basel Fair in 1953. It was the first Patek Philippe movement to feature a perpetual calendar and sweep centre seconds. Scholars have concluded that 115 examples were made in total. Of those, 90 were made in yellow gold but only 20 pieces cased in pink gold.
Reference 2497 is without a doubt among the rarest, most attractive and important vintage complicated wristwatch models by Patek Philippe. It was in production from 1951 to 1963, and over these 12 years a meagre 115 pieces were made in total. It is powered by the 27SC Q movement, a perpetual calendar upgrade (Q stands for Quantième Perpétuel) of the best manually wound centre seconds movement of the time: 27 SC (SC for Second au Centre). In fact, a specific movement number range was reserved for these movements: from 888’000 to 888’178. This means a total of 179 movements, 115 of them used for reference 2497 and the rest for its waterproof sister model, reference 2438/1.
The case of reference 2497 is a virtual carbon copy of the case of reference 2499, without of course the chronograph pushers. As with reference 2499, the case design presents an evolution over time. The first 40 or 50 cases including the present watch were made by Emile Vichet (maker’s mark 9 in a key), the best casemaker of the period who was responsible for casing several other of Patek Philippe’s golden age classics including the 1518 and early series 2499s. The first series Vichet cases are identifiable from their longer, more elongated lugs which feature a prominent curve, the casebacks have a flat centre. The later pieces were cased by Wenger and feature a domed case back and slightly less distinctly curved lugs.
Reference 2497
Produced between 1951 and 1963, reference 2497 was officially launched at the Basel Fair in 1953. It was the first Patek Philippe movement to feature a perpetual calendar and sweep centre seconds. Scholars have concluded that 115 examples were made in total. Of those, 90 were made in yellow gold but only 20 pieces cased in pink gold.