Lot Description

Patek Philippe. An extremely fine and rare 18K pink gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, moon phases, screw back, original certificate, invoice, envelope and box
Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, ref. 2438/1, movement no. 888'175, case no. 2'619'214, manufactured in 1959
Cal. 27 SC Q nickel-finished lever movement stamped twice with the Geneva seal, 18 jewels, bimetallic compensation balance, micrometer regulator, silvered matte dial, applied pink gold baton numerals, pink gold dauphine hands, outer Arabic five minute divisions, sweep centre seconds, two windows for day and month, subsidiary dial for moon phases and date, large circular water-resistant-type case, downturned fluted lugs, screw back, 18K pink gold Patek Philippe buckle, case, dial and movement signed
37 mm. diam.

Special Notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Provenance

Formerly the Property of the late Bernard Glazer
Bernard Glazer of "Glazer Brothers", Anderson, Indiana, passed away on Sunday 20 January 2008. "Glazer Brothers" have been an active business family in Anderson for the past 100 years, contributing to the city of Anderson and various charities, amongst them the Jewish Studies Program of the Indiana University.

Literature

The present watch is prominently described and illustrated in Patek Philippe Complicated Wrist Watches by Giampiero Negretti & Paolo de Vecchi, pp. 145 & 146.

Lot Notes

With Patek Philippe Certificat d'Origine et de Garantie dated 4 April 1970, original envelope and invoice dated the same day and addressed to Mr. Bernard S. Glazer, Anderson, USA. Furthermore delivered with the Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1959 and its subsequent sale on 4 April 1970, the same date as stated on the Certificate and the invoice, plastic pouch containing the instruction manual and outer packaging.

This extremely attractive example of the celebrated reference 2438/1 is distinguished by its well-kept condition, the original dial showing a highly appealing ivory patina and beautifully raised hard enamel signature and scales. These elements combined with the very small number of watches produced of the model, freshness to the market and the presence of the original certificate, invoice and box render this watch a fine trophy for any connoisseur collector.

Never been offered at auction before, the present watch is believed to be the only seventh example of a reference 2438/1 in pink gold to appear in public to date. Reference 2438/1, the only vintage perpetual calendar wristwatch by Patek Philippe made in series with a screw back, enjoys a great popularity amongst connoisseurs. Examples in rose gold, especially if preserved so beautifully as the present watch, are the rarest events in the international auction calendar. Specimen with original paperwork and with such formidable provenance are highlights of a decade.

Ref. 2438/1
In 1951, Patek Philippe launched reference 2497 and its water-resistant counterpart, reference 2438/1. A combined total of only 179 examples of these two models were produced, the majority cased in yellow gold. Reference 2438/1 is generally divided into two different series:

- the first with applied Arabic numerals and dauphine hands
- the second series, such as the present watch, with applied baton numerals and dauphine hands

Reference 2438/1 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 284.