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拍品专文
Entirely fresh to the market and consigned by a descendant of the original owner, this reference 1518 is a superb and exciting discovery. Purchased in 1948, it combines provenance, freshness to the market and the absolute good looks and historical importance of this model, the present timepiece is without a doubt a trophy for any Patek Philippe collector.
Evidently regularly maintained and in superb condition, the case presents a crisp gold hallmark to the back of the lug and shows only the normal signs of honest use over the last 73 years, the last three digits of the case number are scratched on the underside of the bezel as expected. The dial, showing the correct technical attributes for 1948 and tachymeter calibrated for miles rather than the more common metric tachymeter, is in very good condition, perhaps lightly cleaned at some time in the past but retaining all the details the connoisseur looks for, such as the delicate accent of Genève which is, on timepieces from this age, most often lost to cosmetic interventions. Furthermore, an extremely light patina has developed on the gold numerals, amplifying the vintage vibe of this exquisite masterpiece.
Patek Philippe regards models such as the reference 1518 as the true custodians of their heritage, as testified by the fact that the overall design, especially of the dial, remained basically unchanged - of course with subtle updates to acknowledge the shifts in fashion that happened over the course of nearly a century since its inception in 1941.
Reference 1518
The earliest Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch serially produced (and, as a matter of fact, the first perpetual chronograph wristwatch serially produced by any manufacturer, ever), reference 1518 is also the rarest. Since its launch in 1941, the reference 1518 has always been one of the most desired of all Patek Philippe’s complicated wristwatches. The 1518 and its companion reference 1526 were the first ever perpetual calendar wristwatches to be made in series by any manufacturer.
For 45 years, the reference 1518 and reference 2499 were equipped with calibre 13 Q (13 130 Q) a Valjoux ébauche, first upgraded and finished to the highest standards for that time, in Patek’s workshop, then modified under the dial, by Victorin Piguet workshops, to receive the perpetual calendar function.
The gold cases were made by Emile Vichet. In the first years of production, the cases were flatter and the pusher holes were right in the band mid-high. Later the lugs were a bit more turned down and the pushers were drilled very low on the case band. After 1949 the crowns were oversized.
Demand has always outstripped supply of the reference 1518, any examples supplied to lucky official Patek Philippe agents tended to only be offered to their most important and exacting clients. According to research, only 281 examples were made until 1954, the majority cased in yellow gold. The model was later replaced by the equally legendary reference 2499, also a perpetual calendar chronograph, but with a wider diameter and fluted lugs.
Evidently regularly maintained and in superb condition, the case presents a crisp gold hallmark to the back of the lug and shows only the normal signs of honest use over the last 73 years, the last three digits of the case number are scratched on the underside of the bezel as expected. The dial, showing the correct technical attributes for 1948 and tachymeter calibrated for miles rather than the more common metric tachymeter, is in very good condition, perhaps lightly cleaned at some time in the past but retaining all the details the connoisseur looks for, such as the delicate accent of Genève which is, on timepieces from this age, most often lost to cosmetic interventions. Furthermore, an extremely light patina has developed on the gold numerals, amplifying the vintage vibe of this exquisite masterpiece.
Patek Philippe regards models such as the reference 1518 as the true custodians of their heritage, as testified by the fact that the overall design, especially of the dial, remained basically unchanged - of course with subtle updates to acknowledge the shifts in fashion that happened over the course of nearly a century since its inception in 1941.
Reference 1518
The earliest Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch serially produced (and, as a matter of fact, the first perpetual chronograph wristwatch serially produced by any manufacturer, ever), reference 1518 is also the rarest. Since its launch in 1941, the reference 1518 has always been one of the most desired of all Patek Philippe’s complicated wristwatches. The 1518 and its companion reference 1526 were the first ever perpetual calendar wristwatches to be made in series by any manufacturer.
For 45 years, the reference 1518 and reference 2499 were equipped with calibre 13 Q (13 130 Q) a Valjoux ébauche, first upgraded and finished to the highest standards for that time, in Patek’s workshop, then modified under the dial, by Victorin Piguet workshops, to receive the perpetual calendar function.
The gold cases were made by Emile Vichet. In the first years of production, the cases were flatter and the pusher holes were right in the band mid-high. Later the lugs were a bit more turned down and the pushers were drilled very low on the case band. After 1949 the crowns were oversized.
Demand has always outstripped supply of the reference 1518, any examples supplied to lucky official Patek Philippe agents tended to only be offered to their most important and exacting clients. According to research, only 281 examples were made until 1954, the majority cased in yellow gold. The model was later replaced by the equally legendary reference 2499, also a perpetual calendar chronograph, but with a wider diameter and fluted lugs.