拍品專文
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with raised gold hour markers in 1951 and its subsequent sale on 14 November 1952.
Manufacture of reference 1526, highly appreciated by collectors and immediately recognisable by its Calatrava-style case, was launched in 1941. According to literature, only 210 examples were made, the majority in yellow gold. Examples in pink gold however are exceedingly rare, according to research accounting to only some 20 of the entire 1526 production. In over 30 years of international auctions, no more than 33 examples of ref. 1526 with this charismatic case colour have appeared in public.
The reference 1526 in pink gold offered here for sale, made in 1951, the last year of production of this reference, is distinguished not only by its case material, a rarity by itself, but most notably by the fact that it does not feature the small subsidiary seconds indication always found on the celebrated model.
Consequently, this sensational discovery is fitted with a dial not corresponding to anything else in Patek Philippe's regular production. Indeed, since the seconds hand in the moon aperture at 6 o'clock was omitted, the 1 - 31 date indication was printed directly around the moon phases as opposed to the common calibration consisting of a double ring, the innermost for the 60 seconds division, surrounded by the date. Alternatively, if one would suspect that Patek Philippe's craftsmen simply used a dial from the newly introduced reference 2497, featuring the same Arabic and dot numerals but no subsidiary seconds any longer, one is immediately proven wrong since the updated generation with centre seconds was always fitted with outer fifths of a second scale. Consequently, and even without the relevant confirmation from the Archives of Patek Philippe, the scholarly mind will immediately acknowledge the impossibility of achieving such layout by modifying any dial from the firm's standard production and that the dial mounted on the present watch was an exclusive order.
This evidence is furthermore underlined by the fact that a second version of such reference 1526 in pink gold without small seconds hand exists: movement no. 964'569, case no. 659'483, featuring an identical silvered dial with applied gold dot and Arabic numerals, the date ring also omitting any outer lines, was sold at The Art of Patek Philippe, Antiquorum Geneva, 14 November 1999, lot 517.
Incidentally, research has revealed that these special execution references 1526 without small seconds hand, the only two examples known to exist to date, were both made for to two import French industrialists who were not only business partners but also close personal friends wanting to own the same watches. Whereas the first of the two watches was sold over a decade ago through public auction, the second watch, offered here for sale, has remained in the same family since 1952.
As a matter for fact, it is understood that both watches bear the French calendar indications, French import marks and stamp of Patek Philippe's renowned Paris retailer Guillermin, supporting the assumption that these two rarities were indeed special executions granted to two of the firm's most faithful clients in France.
Having always been the property of the same distinguished family for nearly 60 years, the present masterpiece is preserved in impressively original and unspoilt condition. The case has seen little polishing only and the dial displays the richness and complexity an example of this period should exhibit.
Reference 1526
Manufacture of reference 1526, highly appreciated by collectors and immediately recognisable by its Calatrava-style case, was launched in 1941. According to literature, only 210 examples were made, cased either in yellow or pink gold. Only one example in steel, now at Patek Philippe's prestigious watch museum in Geneva, is known to have been made.
Reference 1526 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 282 & 283.
Manufacture of reference 1526, highly appreciated by collectors and immediately recognisable by its Calatrava-style case, was launched in 1941. According to literature, only 210 examples were made, the majority in yellow gold. Examples in pink gold however are exceedingly rare, according to research accounting to only some 20 of the entire 1526 production. In over 30 years of international auctions, no more than 33 examples of ref. 1526 with this charismatic case colour have appeared in public.
The reference 1526 in pink gold offered here for sale, made in 1951, the last year of production of this reference, is distinguished not only by its case material, a rarity by itself, but most notably by the fact that it does not feature the small subsidiary seconds indication always found on the celebrated model.
Consequently, this sensational discovery is fitted with a dial not corresponding to anything else in Patek Philippe's regular production. Indeed, since the seconds hand in the moon aperture at 6 o'clock was omitted, the 1 - 31 date indication was printed directly around the moon phases as opposed to the common calibration consisting of a double ring, the innermost for the 60 seconds division, surrounded by the date. Alternatively, if one would suspect that Patek Philippe's craftsmen simply used a dial from the newly introduced reference 2497, featuring the same Arabic and dot numerals but no subsidiary seconds any longer, one is immediately proven wrong since the updated generation with centre seconds was always fitted with outer fifths of a second scale. Consequently, and even without the relevant confirmation from the Archives of Patek Philippe, the scholarly mind will immediately acknowledge the impossibility of achieving such layout by modifying any dial from the firm's standard production and that the dial mounted on the present watch was an exclusive order.
This evidence is furthermore underlined by the fact that a second version of such reference 1526 in pink gold without small seconds hand exists: movement no. 964'569, case no. 659'483, featuring an identical silvered dial with applied gold dot and Arabic numerals, the date ring also omitting any outer lines, was sold at The Art of Patek Philippe, Antiquorum Geneva, 14 November 1999, lot 517.
Incidentally, research has revealed that these special execution references 1526 without small seconds hand, the only two examples known to exist to date, were both made for to two import French industrialists who were not only business partners but also close personal friends wanting to own the same watches. Whereas the first of the two watches was sold over a decade ago through public auction, the second watch, offered here for sale, has remained in the same family since 1952.
As a matter for fact, it is understood that both watches bear the French calendar indications, French import marks and stamp of Patek Philippe's renowned Paris retailer Guillermin, supporting the assumption that these two rarities were indeed special executions granted to two of the firm's most faithful clients in France.
Having always been the property of the same distinguished family for nearly 60 years, the present masterpiece is preserved in impressively original and unspoilt condition. The case has seen little polishing only and the dial displays the richness and complexity an example of this period should exhibit.
Reference 1526
Manufacture of reference 1526, highly appreciated by collectors and immediately recognisable by its Calatrava-style case, was launched in 1941. According to literature, only 210 examples were made, cased either in yellow or pink gold. Only one example in steel, now at Patek Philippe's prestigious watch museum in Geneva, is known to have been made.
Reference 1526 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 282 & 283.