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Lot Essay
Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the production of the present watch with pink gold bracelet in 1953 and its subsequent sale on 8 March 1954.
To the best of our knowledge, the present watch is one of the earliest examples of the reference 2526 in pink gold. It is delivered with an 18K pink gold link bracelet signed Patek Philippe & Co., and stamped GF for Gay Frères. Gay Frères, located in Geneva, were specialised in manufacturing jewelry but were also renowned for producing high quality bracelets for wristwatches.
The production of reference 2526 was launched in 1953 and is Patek Philippe's first self-winding watch. It features the legendary caliber 12-600 AT which was granted in 1953 Swiss patent No. 289758 for a self-winding mechanism for a wristwatch movement using the energy supplied by a rotary mass causing an eccentric part to transmit a swinging movement to an organ of the mechanism.
The present watch is part of the very first generation of reference 2526 fitted with the earliest version of caliber 12'''600 without ball bearing. Research indicates that only very few examples were ever made with this early specification. Watches which were not upgraded to the later standard are particularly rare and collectable.
Both model and movement are illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, 1st edition pp. 168-169, 2nd edition pp. 213, 214, 216-217.
For an example of a reference 2526 in yellow gold see lot 137 in this sale.
To the best of our knowledge, the present watch is one of the earliest examples of the reference 2526 in pink gold. It is delivered with an 18K pink gold link bracelet signed Patek Philippe & Co., and stamped GF for Gay Frères. Gay Frères, located in Geneva, were specialised in manufacturing jewelry but were also renowned for producing high quality bracelets for wristwatches.
The production of reference 2526 was launched in 1953 and is Patek Philippe's first self-winding watch. It features the legendary caliber 12-600 AT which was granted in 1953 Swiss patent No. 289758 for a self-winding mechanism for a wristwatch movement using the energy supplied by a rotary mass causing an eccentric part to transmit a swinging movement to an organ of the mechanism.
The present watch is part of the very first generation of reference 2526 fitted with the earliest version of caliber 12'''600 without ball bearing. Research indicates that only very few examples were ever made with this early specification. Watches which were not upgraded to the later standard are particularly rare and collectable.
Both model and movement are illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, 1st edition pp. 168-169, 2nd edition pp. 213, 214, 216-217.
For an example of a reference 2526 in yellow gold see lot 137 in this sale.