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117Σ

Patek Philippe

Ref. 2497

"Secondi al Centro"

A stunning and rare yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with center seconds and moonphases

Estimate
CHF200,000 - 400,000
€208,000 - 415,000
$220,000 - 440,000
CHF419,100
Lot Details
Manufacturer
Patek Philippe
Year
Circa 1955
Reference No
2497
Movement No
888'062
Case No
679'796
Model Name
"Secondi al Centro"
Material
18K yellow gold
Calibre
Manual, cal. 27SCQ, 18 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
Alligator
Clasp/Buckle
18k yellow gold Patek Philippe pin buckle (modern)
Dimensions
37mm Diameter
Signed
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Accessories
Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with raised gold hour markers in 1953 and its subsequent sale on August 11, 1954
Catalogue Essay
A truly landmark model, reference 2497 was released in 1951.

Launched alongside the famed perpetual calendar chronograph reference 2499, Patek Philippe released this simple perpetual calendar, just as it had released the predecessor reference 1518 alongside the reference 1526. The references 2497 and 2499 were designed with larger diameter cases featuring more robust and elaborate lugs compared with their predecessors. Additionally, a waterproof companion was introduced shortly after the reference 2497, the rare reference 2438/1. Established scholarship tells us that there were a combined total of only 179 total examples made across both references 2497 and 2438/1, with movement numbers spanning from 888’000 to 888’178. Some two thirds of these movements were placed within the reference 2497 over a production span of over 10 years. In fact, Patek Philippe took the challenge of creating a so-called “simple” perpetual calendar (if such a thing is not an oxymoron) to heart, adapting their much-lauded caliber 27 SC (SC for “seconde au centre”) to have a perpetual calendar function, transforming it into the 27 SC Q (Q for “quantième”). The sibling references 2497 and 2438/1 were the world’s first perpetual calendars with center seconds.

The case is virtually identical to the reference 2499, with gracefully fluted lugs and a robust, stepped case. Early examples such as the present lot are further characterized by delicate feuille hands and alternating gold dot and Arabic numeral indices

Fresh to the market, the present watch is a very attractive specimen, featuring crisp fluting to the lugs, it also displays two hallmarks which are deep and crisp beneath the lugs.

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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