When associating the words “vintage Patek Philippe” and “grand feu enamel dial”, the automatic reference 2526 and its successor reference 3428 immediately come to mind.

However, there is another, extremely elusive reference which mounts that same kind of dial: ref. 2577, launched in 1956 and so rare that so far only 12 examples in total are known, 8 in yellow gold and 4 in pink gold, including the present watch.

The rarity of a four-known-examples variation coupled with the grand feu enamel dial - a topos of mid-century Patek Philippe collecting, given the quality and difficulty of realisation of such dials - would be more than enough to make this an extremely collectible timepiece. But then, a look at the condition of its case elevates the piece to the stratosphere of collectability. The term “NOS” tends to be abused at times, but it is absolutely appropriate to describe this case. Still bearing its original sale tag, the sticker to the back and its original bracelet, it is obvious that the present watch never even got close to the polishing table.

This extraordinarily rare piece has appeared only twice at auction so far. Once, when it was freshly rediscovered, in 2003, and then again 2004, before disappearing into the present private collection. It is worth noting that in 2003, some of the pink gold hour makers were not correctly mounted on the dial when it was offered at auction. In fact, the indexes had been kept by the original owner, who consigned them alongside the watch. For obvious reasons, the winning bidder decided to have these indexes immediately mounted on the dial and brought the watch back to its original, unworn condition.