Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1955 Reference No: 2497 Movement No: 888'121 Case No: 696'484 Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual, 27SC Q Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18k gold buckle, signed PPC Dimensions: 37mm. Diameter Signed:Case, dial and movement signed Accessories:Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1955 and its subsequent sale on July 25th, 1959. Provenance: Property from an International Collector Literature: Examples of reference 2497 are illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by M. Huber & A. Banbery, 2nd edition, pp. 285 & 287.
Provenance
Property from an International Collector
Catalogue Essay
Reference 2497 was Patek Philippe’s first perpetual calendar wristwatch featuring centre seconds. Whereas examples from the first generation have Arabic and dot numerals, watches from the late production have facetted baton numerals. The present watch, now offered for sale by the second owner since new, was sold to the UK in 1959 and features not only inside the case back and the lower right lug the UK gold marks from 1959, but also on the original gold Patek Philippe buckle. This fact, paired with its overall excellent condition, renders this watch a premium example of what many consider one of the most beautiful perpetual calendar wristwatches ever.
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.