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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1954 and its subsequent sale on 17 January 1955.
This watch, including detail of its movement no. 760'903, is prominently illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition pp. 165 & 166, second edition pp. 213 & 214, together with its drawing made by David Penney.
Reference 2526 is commonly known with an enamel dial with applied gold baton numerals. Very few examples exist with different numerals, such as diamond indexes, more commonly on white metal watches, or Breguet numerals, such as the present watch.
Research shows that only four examples of reference 2526 were fitted with applied Breguet numerals, amongst them one in Andy Warhol's watch collection. It seems though that the present watch was the first reference 2526 made with this exotic and desirable dial.
The combination of the dial's rarity, the overall condition of the watch, its presence in numerous books about Patek Philippe and articles published about this model render this example the possibly most famous reference 2526.
David Penney
Mr. David Penney, a renowned illustrator specialized in the history of technology, especially Horology, is working for watch manufactures such as Patek Philippe, Omega and George Daniels, but also for the British Museum, the National Maritime Museum and formerly for the Time Museum, Rockford, just to mention some.
This watch, including detail of its movement no. 760'903, is prominently illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition pp. 165 & 166, second edition pp. 213 & 214, together with its drawing made by David Penney.
Reference 2526 is commonly known with an enamel dial with applied gold baton numerals. Very few examples exist with different numerals, such as diamond indexes, more commonly on white metal watches, or Breguet numerals, such as the present watch.
Research shows that only four examples of reference 2526 were fitted with applied Breguet numerals, amongst them one in Andy Warhol's watch collection. It seems though that the present watch was the first reference 2526 made with this exotic and desirable dial.
The combination of the dial's rarity, the overall condition of the watch, its presence in numerous books about Patek Philippe and articles published about this model render this example the possibly most famous reference 2526.
David Penney
Mr. David Penney, a renowned illustrator specialized in the history of technology, especially Horology, is working for watch manufactures such as Patek Philippe, Omega and George Daniels, but also for the British Museum, the National Maritime Museum and formerly for the Time Museum, Rockford, just to mention some.