Patek Philippe - The New York Watch Auction: NINE New York Saturday, December 9, 2023 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1962
    Reference No: 2597
    Movement No: 729’446
    Case No: 311’323
    Model Name: “Travel Time”
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 12-400 HS, 18 jewels; stamped twice with the Geneva seal
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe pin buckle
    Dimensions: 35mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, and movement signed.
    Accessories: Accompanied by original Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin with date code for 1962, envelope, and Patek Philippe hang tag with serial number and reference. Additionally accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1962 and its subsequent sale on May 15th 1964.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Patek Philippe released the reference 2597 in 1958, which was based on a Louis Cottier-designed prototype from 1953 with heures sautantes, or jumping hours. Cottier, an independent watchmaker, was known for his ingenious work on specialized timepieces from jumping digital hour watches, to aviators’ watches, and most notably his “World Time” mechanism from 1931. Over the span of almost 30 years, he delivered to Patek Philippe approximately 380 watch movements leading to some of the most sought-after timepieces of the 20th century, including the reference 1415 “World Time” with engraved bezel with 41 world cities, the reference 2523 - a two crown “World Time” watch with rotating world city ring on the dial, and the reference 2597 which came in two series.

    The first series, like the present watch, featured one hour hand and two pushers on the left side of the case allowing for the hour hand to be quickly adjusted forward or backward. The second series, launched in 1962 added an additional hour hand. So intelligent and enduring was this design, a version of the same system can be found in Patek Philippe’s World Time Chronograph ref. 5930G launched in 2016. Scholarship tells us that the first version was made in approximately 100 pieces, with the vast majority cased in yellow gold.

    With a gorgeous silver sunburst dial and strong case, the present reference 2597 in yellow gold has endured the past half-century with grace. An exquisite and extremely well-preserved example of the reference, it is accompanied by its original Certificate of Origin and hang tag consigned from an important private collection.

  • 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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152

Ref. 2597
An extremely rare and well-preserved dual-time zone “first series” yellow gold wristwatch with independent hour hand, Certificate of Origin, sales tag, and envelope

1962
35mm Diameter
Case, dial, and movement signed.

Estimate
$80,000 - 130,000 
CHF72,000-117,000
€74,900-122,000
HK$625,000-1,020,000
S$109,000-177,000

Sold for $120,650

Contact Specialist

Paul Boutros
Deputy Chairman and Head of Watches, Americas
+1 (212) 940-1293
WatchesNY@Phillips.com
 
Isabella Proia
Head of Sale, New York
+1 (212) 940 1285
iproia@phillips.com

The New York Watch Auction: NINE

New York Auction 9 - 10 December 2023