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拍品专文
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1952 and its subsequent sale on August 17th of the following year.
Reference 2497 was launched in 1952 and was the world's first perpetual calendar wristwatch with center seconds. Based on the well-known and celebrated caliber 27SC, Patek Philippe upgraded it with a perpetual calendar mechanism underneath the dial and renamed it 27SC-QP, for perpetual calendar.
Only 179 examples were made and were reserved exclusively for 2497, 2498, 2438-1, the screw back version. The movement range was reserved to go from 888'000 to 888'178. Which means the present example which is no. 888'001 is the 2nd ever made example of this reference. It is interesting to note that movement number 888'000 is not fitted with the well-known typical fluted lugs case, but rather with the more horn-shaped lugs, making the present example truly the first fitted with the classical 2497 case as we associate it today.
The first generation timepieces had cases made by Vichet, a very pormient and exclusive case maker and was defined by downturned, elongated downturned lugs and flat back versus later generations with shorter lugs and rounded back.
The present example has wonderfully preserved lugs with excellent definition to the fluting as well as a very well preserved dial with a crisp signature and scales. Interestingly the first generation 2497 was not hallmarked on the side but often on the main body where the case back would cover it (see detail). Another interesting feature is on the 11:00 position. Few watches are so rich and generous in their proportions, so timeless in their design and so rare in production like the first generation of 2497, offering state of the art mechanism housed in a wonderful and sophisticated case and offering such great value as this landmark model.
Examples of reference 2497 are illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by M. Huber & A. Banbery, second edition, pp. 285 & 287.
Reference 2497 was launched in 1952 and was the world's first perpetual calendar wristwatch with center seconds. Based on the well-known and celebrated caliber 27SC, Patek Philippe upgraded it with a perpetual calendar mechanism underneath the dial and renamed it 27SC-QP, for perpetual calendar.
Only 179 examples were made and were reserved exclusively for 2497, 2498, 2438-1, the screw back version. The movement range was reserved to go from 888'000 to 888'178. Which means the present example which is no. 888'001 is the 2nd ever made example of this reference. It is interesting to note that movement number 888'000 is not fitted with the well-known typical fluted lugs case, but rather with the more horn-shaped lugs, making the present example truly the first fitted with the classical 2497 case as we associate it today.
The first generation timepieces had cases made by Vichet, a very pormient and exclusive case maker and was defined by downturned, elongated downturned lugs and flat back versus later generations with shorter lugs and rounded back.
The present example has wonderfully preserved lugs with excellent definition to the fluting as well as a very well preserved dial with a crisp signature and scales. Interestingly the first generation 2497 was not hallmarked on the side but often on the main body where the case back would cover it (see detail). Another interesting feature is on the 11:00 position. Few watches are so rich and generous in their proportions, so timeless in their design and so rare in production like the first generation of 2497, offering state of the art mechanism housed in a wonderful and sophisticated case and offering such great value as this landmark model.
Examples of reference 2497 are illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by M. Huber & A. Banbery, second edition, pp. 285 & 287.