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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1949 and its subsequent sale on 20 October 1950. Furthermore delivered with a spare crystal.
Purchased by its actual owner, an important European private
collector, in The Art of Patek Philippe sale in in 1989, the watch has remained in his collection ever since. Over the years, its dial has taken a highly attractive ivory tone, beautifully harmonizing with the pink gold case. The case is very well preserved and has not been subject to careless polishing, demonstrated by the clearly visible hallmarks to the right band and to the underside of the lower right lug.
Most likely one of the much sought after "two owner since new" watches, the present reference 1526 is a fine trophy for the collector of rare timepieces.
Reference 1526
Reference 1526 is doubtlessly among the most elegant models ever produced by Patek Philippe, produced in an exceedingly small series of only 210 examples. With the exception of a unique piece in steel. With the exception of a unique piece in steel, this reference was available predominantly in yellow gold and a fraction in pink gold.
In production from 1940 to 1952, this masterpiece of elegance combines a Calatrava-style case and a minimalist dial audaciously ahead of its time. In fact, a similar style of dial layout - with a subsidiary dial at 6 o'clock and openings for day of the week and month at 12 - is used in Patek Philippe perpetual calendar watches over the following three decades, most notably references 2497, 2438-1, 3448 and 3450.
Reference 1526 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition, p. 215.
A similar example is illustrated in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches Volume II, pp. 288-289.
Purchased by its actual owner, an important European private
collector, in The Art of Patek Philippe sale in in 1989, the watch has remained in his collection ever since. Over the years, its dial has taken a highly attractive ivory tone, beautifully harmonizing with the pink gold case. The case is very well preserved and has not been subject to careless polishing, demonstrated by the clearly visible hallmarks to the right band and to the underside of the lower right lug.
Most likely one of the much sought after "two owner since new" watches, the present reference 1526 is a fine trophy for the collector of rare timepieces.
Reference 1526
Reference 1526 is doubtlessly among the most elegant models ever produced by Patek Philippe, produced in an exceedingly small series of only 210 examples. With the exception of a unique piece in steel. With the exception of a unique piece in steel, this reference was available predominantly in yellow gold and a fraction in pink gold.
In production from 1940 to 1952, this masterpiece of elegance combines a Calatrava-style case and a minimalist dial audaciously ahead of its time. In fact, a similar style of dial layout - with a subsidiary dial at 6 o'clock and openings for day of the week and month at 12 - is used in Patek Philippe perpetual calendar watches over the following three decades, most notably references 2497, 2438-1, 3448 and 3450.
Reference 1526 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition, p. 215.
A similar example is illustrated in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches Volume II, pp. 288-289.