Patek Philippe - The Geneva Watch Auction: XVIII Geneva Friday, November 3, 2023 | Phillips

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  • 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.

  • Artist Biography

    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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Σ117

Ref. 2497
A stunning and rare yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with center seconds and moonphases

Circa 1955
37mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF200,000 - 400,000 
€208,000-415,000
$220,000-440,000

Sold for CHF419,100

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Europe, and Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
AGhotbi@phillips.com

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

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The Geneva Watch Auction: XVIII

Geneva Auction 3 - 4 November 2023