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拍品专文
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with raised gold hour markers in 1949 and its subsequent sale on 7 December 1950.
When scholars are faced with objects which do not fit into scholarship they swiftly dismiss them as being incorrect. The market for vintage collector's wristwatches is no exception so it does not come as a surprise that the present 1518 has caused more question marks than approval upon a first inspection.
The reason for one's doubt resides in the highly unusual dial fitted on this reference 1518, featuring facetted baton markers and tachometre scale, a combination usually reserved for reference's 2499 second series.
In-depth study and comparisons of all known dial versions reveal however that this dial is unique in its composition and was certainly born on the present watch. Firstly, the baton markers on this "1518" are thin, pointed towards the centre and facetted, whereas reference 2499 second series has wider, blunt towards the centre, facetted markers. Furthermore, the present watch has small nail hobs as hour markers at the five and seven o'clock position, again something which is not known to the second series of reference 2499.
Secondly, a close examination of the underside of this dial reveals a beautifully hand-engraved number, reading clearly 867'733, the movement number of the present watch. Important watches by Patek Philippe, often fitted with unique dials, carried commonly the movement number on the underside of the dial.
Lastly, the wonderful provenance of this trophy: we can trace its first appearance on the auction market back to Christie's New York, Fine Watches, Wristwatches, Clocks and Scientific Instruments, April 28, 1990, lot 253, where it was consigned by a private gentleman.
Now that the research is completed one can only speculate for the reasons why Patek Philippe chose to create a unique dial for this watch. When considering that this "1518" was sold in 1950, a time when the 2499 generation was underway, one concludes that it must have been a transitional attempt and precursor for many generations of complicated Patek Philippe wristwatches.
Reference 1518 was launched in 1941 and according to literature, only 281 examples were made until 1954, the majority cased in yellow gold, few in pink gold. It was furthermore the first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch produced in series by any watch company. The model was later replaced by reference 2499, also a perpetual calendar chronograph, but with a wider diameter and fluted lugs.
Reference 1518 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition p. 231 pl. 386, second edition p. 303 pl. 459 and in Armbanduhren - 100 Jahre Entwicklungsgeschichte by Kahlert, Mühe, Brunner, second edition p. 127.
When scholars are faced with objects which do not fit into scholarship they swiftly dismiss them as being incorrect. The market for vintage collector's wristwatches is no exception so it does not come as a surprise that the present 1518 has caused more question marks than approval upon a first inspection.
The reason for one's doubt resides in the highly unusual dial fitted on this reference 1518, featuring facetted baton markers and tachometre scale, a combination usually reserved for reference's 2499 second series.
In-depth study and comparisons of all known dial versions reveal however that this dial is unique in its composition and was certainly born on the present watch. Firstly, the baton markers on this "1518" are thin, pointed towards the centre and facetted, whereas reference 2499 second series has wider, blunt towards the centre, facetted markers. Furthermore, the present watch has small nail hobs as hour markers at the five and seven o'clock position, again something which is not known to the second series of reference 2499.
Secondly, a close examination of the underside of this dial reveals a beautifully hand-engraved number, reading clearly 867'733, the movement number of the present watch. Important watches by Patek Philippe, often fitted with unique dials, carried commonly the movement number on the underside of the dial.
Lastly, the wonderful provenance of this trophy: we can trace its first appearance on the auction market back to Christie's New York, Fine Watches, Wristwatches, Clocks and Scientific Instruments, April 28, 1990, lot 253, where it was consigned by a private gentleman.
Now that the research is completed one can only speculate for the reasons why Patek Philippe chose to create a unique dial for this watch. When considering that this "1518" was sold in 1950, a time when the 2499 generation was underway, one concludes that it must have been a transitional attempt and precursor for many generations of complicated Patek Philippe wristwatches.
Reference 1518 was launched in 1941 and according to literature, only 281 examples were made until 1954, the majority cased in yellow gold, few in pink gold. It was furthermore the first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch produced in series by any watch company. The model was later replaced by reference 2499, also a perpetual calendar chronograph, but with a wider diameter and fluted lugs.
Reference 1518 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition p. 231 pl. 386, second edition p. 303 pl. 459 and in Armbanduhren - 100 Jahre Entwicklungsgeschichte by Kahlert, Mühe, Brunner, second edition p. 127.