Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1951 Reference No: 2458 Movement No: 969'359 Case No: 664'559 Material: 18k pink gold Calibre: Manual, 12'''120 Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18k pink gold, signed PPC Dimensions: 36mm. Diameter Signed:Case, dial and movement signed Accessories:Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1951 and its subsequent sale on June 17th, 1952 Literature: Another example is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 253, pl. 389.
Catalogue Essay
Despite its very short and small production, reference 2458 is very well known to the community of Patek Philippe collectors as it is the very reference that also the world famous J. B. Champion Observatory Chronometer has.
Interestingly, the present example in rose gold and the Champion were both sold in the same year, 1952. Examples in rose gold are very rare and only another five pieces are known today to have survived.
The example here has a lovely and unrestored dial and a very crisp and hardly polished case.
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.