203
Patek Philippe
Ref. 2551
A possibly unique, superbly elegant and incredibly charming white gold automatic wristwatch with black lacquered dial and diamond-set numerals
- Estimate
- CHF150,000 - 300,000$150,000 - 300,000€154,000 - 309,000
CHF359,100
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Patek Philippe
- Year
- 1957
- Reference No
- 2551
- Movement No
- 764'389
- Case No
- 698'129
- Material
- 18K white gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal 12-600, 30 jewels, double stamped with the Geneva Seal
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18K white gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp
- Dimensions
- 36mm Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1957 with black dial and diamond indexes and its subsequent sale on January 28, 1958.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Sophisticated, understated yet bold, Patek Philippe reference 2551 is one of the firm's most impressive watches. In production alongside the iconic reference 2526 during the second half of the 1950s, it shares with its brethren a 36mm case diameter and, most notably, the legendary calibre 12-600, widely considered one of the best - if not the best outright - automatic movements of all times.
While the case design of ref. 2526 is stern and imposing, directly derived by the near-militaristic Bauhaus-inspired Calatrava designs of the 1930s and 1940s, reference 2551 is the time only version of one of the most flamboyant, striking, elegant and appreciated case designs of all times: that of reference 2499. The carved downturned lugs, the concave bezel, the contrasting convex band: Patek Philippe basically took the case of ref. 2499, removed the chronograph pushers, slimmed it down and made it waterproof with a screw-down back (similarly to ref. 2438/1) Predominantly cased in yellow or pink gold, the true connoisseurs of the brand consider it a classic in any metal. A white metal example, however, is above and beyond simple watch collecting, achieving true "grail status” already: in fact only a tiny fraction of the production (few dozen pieces out of the estimated couple of thousands examples produced) is in white gold. When a white gold example - such as the present one - is furthermore adorned with a black dial with diamond markers - arguably the most rare Patek Philippe dress watch dial design - we land in legendary territories as we are in front of a so far unique creation. To date, we are not aware of any other model with this dial and case metal combination.
On top of its incredible rarity and looks, the piece is furthermore in absolutely stunning and unrestored condition, sporting a case with perfectly preserved architecture, and an equally well-kept dial without the slightest trace of intervention . All these factors combined make this timepiece one of the most relevant time-only Patek Philippe wristwatches ever made, an unmissable “must have” for the collector of important vintage pieces.
While the case design of ref. 2526 is stern and imposing, directly derived by the near-militaristic Bauhaus-inspired Calatrava designs of the 1930s and 1940s, reference 2551 is the time only version of one of the most flamboyant, striking, elegant and appreciated case designs of all times: that of reference 2499. The carved downturned lugs, the concave bezel, the contrasting convex band: Patek Philippe basically took the case of ref. 2499, removed the chronograph pushers, slimmed it down and made it waterproof with a screw-down back (similarly to ref. 2438/1) Predominantly cased in yellow or pink gold, the true connoisseurs of the brand consider it a classic in any metal. A white metal example, however, is above and beyond simple watch collecting, achieving true "grail status” already: in fact only a tiny fraction of the production (few dozen pieces out of the estimated couple of thousands examples produced) is in white gold. When a white gold example - such as the present one - is furthermore adorned with a black dial with diamond markers - arguably the most rare Patek Philippe dress watch dial design - we land in legendary territories as we are in front of a so far unique creation. To date, we are not aware of any other model with this dial and case metal combination.
On top of its incredible rarity and looks, the piece is furthermore in absolutely stunning and unrestored condition, sporting a case with perfectly preserved architecture, and an equally well-kept dial without the slightest trace of intervention . All these factors combined make this timepiece one of the most relevant time-only Patek Philippe wristwatches ever made, an unmissable “must have” for the collector of important vintage pieces.
Patek Philippe
Swiss | 1839Since 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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