Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1945 Reference No: 1509 Movement No: 926'768 Case No: 637'423 Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 12'''120, 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Gilt pin buckle Dimensions: 35mm. Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with "silvered dial, raised gold hour markers" in 1945 and its subsequent sale on February 9, 1946
Catalogue Essay
Patek Philippe reference 1509 was launched in 1940 and remained in production until the early 1950s. It is a twin model to reference 1503. While the former is realised in precious metal, the latter was made exclusively in steel or steel-and-gold. It is unknown why in this instance Patek Philippe decided to adopt different references for different case materials, straying away from their usual path.
Its 35mm diameter is quite generous for the time - the contemporary “classic” Patek Philippe dress watch ref. 96 measuring 33mm.
The thin bezel amplifies the apparent size of the piece, and leaves the dial as the undisputed protagonist of the design, thus in this model the dial condition is of paramount importance. In this blessed instance, the piece features an absolutely unrestored and very well preserved two-tone dial with outer railway baton five-minute divisions combined with dot minute divisions. It is a more unusual twist to the railway Arabic five-minute divisions combined with baton fifth-of-a-second divisions often seen in the 1940s. The scale is rendered in a different tone than the rest of the dial, highlighting the “framing” effect of the railway style. Overall, the dial aesthetics is at the same time airy and refined, somehow reminiscent of the later clean dials of the 1950s-70s, but at the same time also of earlier Bauhaus-style dials designed in the 1920s.
The entirety of the graphics is perfectly preserved and engraved/enamelled. The keen eye will notice the presence of a “long” Patek Philippe & Co. signature - as expected from a watch made in 1945 - retaining the delicate comma between “Patek” and “Philippe” and accent of Genève - details often lost to time.
The case is a hymn to simplicity, with the teardrop lugs being a striking defining feature and furthermore a style rarely employed by the brand.
A superbly elegant timepiece with timeless charme, its exquisite aesthetics will please the novice collector as well as the most hardcore horological connoisseur.
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.