Patek Philippe - The Geneva Watch Auction: SEVEN Geneva Saturday, May 12, 2018 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1961
    Reference No: 2597
    Movement No: 729'428
    Case No: 310'503
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 12-400 HS, 18 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold pin buckle stamped PPCo
    Dimensions: 35.5mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1961 and its subsequent sale on October 14, 1965, further accompanied by Patek Philippe leather pouch.
    Literature: A similar reference 2597 in 18 karat yellow gold is featured in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber and Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 238-239. The reference is additionally discussed and pictured in Nicholas Foulkes' Patek Philippe: The Authorized Biography, pp. 243-246.

  • Catalogue Essay

    In 1952, the first jetliner, a de Havilland Comet, made its inaugural voyage from London to Johannesburg, and thus began the Jet Age of air travel. It wasn't until later in the 1950s when travel by jetliner became more regulated and improved operationally, that a real culture developed amongst those who could afford to fly across the world at a whim. Typical destinations included New York, London, Paris, Los Angeles, and Rome, alongside exotic tropical resorts such as Capri, St. Tropez, Acapulco, and the Bahamas. The stewardesses and pilots were glamorous and attractive, caviar and roast pheasant were served to travelers, and icons were born and made by the photographs and films that captured this lifestyle.

    Patek Philippe's similarly iconic reference 2597 was also born during this era, created as a direct response to this new age of travel. An easy way to keep track of time across multiple time zones, Patek Philippe used the ingenious designs of Louis Cottier in his development of the world time watch and asked him to engineer what would become the 2597, made in two versions. The first series featured an independently adjustable hour hand whereas the second, like the present watch introduced in 1962, included an additional hour hand. Contemporary corporate literature made clear the need for accuracy and clarity in timing, and this new function, with its independently adjustable hour hand, succeeded by having no effect on timekeeping. One would simply press the pushers at 8 o'clock and 10 o'clock to quickly adjust the hour without changing the time through the crown. Patek Philippe patented this system in 1959, with Swiss Patent 340191 for a "Time Zone Watch".

    The cases of reference 2597 were produced by Antoine Gerlach, one of the firms specializing in making cases for Patek Philippe. The current example in yellow gold dates to 1961 and in our opinion, has never been polished. The case has beautifully oxidized over the intervening years, with few signs of careful wear over its lifetime. The raised, hard enamel print is perfectly intact and the factory, brushed finished to the caseback remains crisp, making this a superb example of one of the world's most sought after travel watches of the mid 20th century.

  • Artist Biography

    Patek Philippe

    Swiss • 1839

    Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.

    Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.

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Ref. 2597
A highly rare and attractive yellow gold dual time wristwatch with additional adjustable jumping hour hand

1961
35.5mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF100,000 - 150,000 
€85,700-129,000
$106,000-159,000

Sold for CHF175,000

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Sale
+41 22 317 81 81
aghotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: SEVEN

Geneva Auction 12-13 May 2018