Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1942 Reference No: 1506 Movement No: 862'956 Case No: 629'230 Material: 18k pink gold Calibre: Manual, 13''' Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18k pink gold buckle, signed PPC Dimensions: 36mm. Diameter Signed:Case, dial and movement signed Accessories:Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1942 with silvery rose dial and its subsequent sale on December 24th, 1942 Provenance: Property from an Important Private Collection Literature: For another example of reference 1506 please see Patek Philippe, by Martin Huber and Alan Banbery, second edition, page 267
Provenance
Property from an Important Private Collection
Catalogue Essay
Collectors of vintage Patek Philippe chronographs are most familiar with the firm’s landmark references 130, 533, 591, 1463, 530 and 1579. However, few can spontaneously name reference 1506 and many admit that they have never actually held in their hand an example of this rare gem. This shouldn’t be a surprise as scholars only know 3 examples in yellow gold and 3 in rose gold. Furthermore, it has now been 7 years since the last example of this reference has been offered at any auction, world-wide. Consequently, the offering of the present example, for the first time ever in public, is an event by itself.Reference 1506 is not only one of the rarest vintage models ever created by Patek Philippe, but also one of the largest. With a diameter of 36mm, large multi-facetted lugs some 20mm apart from each other, the overall appearance is striking and best described as prominent while sitting beautifully on its wearer’s wrist.The rose coloured dial is in excellent condition and all the signatures and scales are properly raised and free of signs of restoration. The case has very good definition to the lugs, bezel and pushers – the most exposed parts and those suffering most from unprofessional polishing.Coming from a long and very private ownership and one of the most important collections of vintage watches, this rose gold reference 1506 has the pedigree any buyer can possibly hope for and constitutes for the well-versed collector an incredibly rare opportunity.
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.