Patek Philippe. A Very Fine and Rare 18k Gold Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Wristwatch with Moon Phases
This watch is pictured with straps made of endange… Read more
Patek Philippe. A Very Fine and Rare 18k Gold Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Wristwatch with Moon Phases

Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, Ref. 2499/100, Movement No. 869'250, Case No. 2'792'106, Manufactured in 1982

Details
Patek Philippe. A Very Fine and Rare 18k Gold Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Wristwatch with Moon Phases
Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, Ref. 2499/100, Movement No. 869'250, Case No. 2'792'106, Manufactured in 1982
Movement: Manual, Cal. 13''' Q, stamped with the Geneva seal, 23 jewels
Dial: Silvered, baton numerals, two windows for day and month in English, three subsidiary dials
Case: 18k gold, snap on back, two round buttons in the band, 37.7mm diam.
Buckle: Patek Philippe 18k gold buckle
Accompanied By: A Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming date of sale on August 10, 1983, a Patek Philippe presentation box, and a Looney Toons "That's All Folks!" poster.
Special notice
This watch is pictured with straps made of endangered or protected animal materials such as alligator or crocodile. These endangered species straps are shown for display purposes only and are not for sale. Christie’s will remove and retain the strap prior to shipment from the sale site. At some sale sites, Christie’s may, at its discretion, make the displayed endangered species strap available to the buyer of the lot free of charge if collected in person from the sale site within 1 year of the date of the auction. Please check with the department for details on a particular lot.

Lot Essay

Reference 2499

Widely acknowledged as one of the world's greatest watch models ever created, reference 2499 has strongly influenced the designs of many of the most renowned watchmakers. Introduced to the market in 1950 it replaced the legendary reference 1518, the world's first perpetual calendar wristwatch with chronograph made in series.

Over a period of 35 years, reference 2499 was made in four series in a total production of only 349 pieces, the majority cased in yellow gold. The rarity of this model becomes evident when considering that an annual average of only 9 watches left Patek Philippe's workshops.

Reference 2499 is generally divided into the following four series:
- first series: square chronograph buttons, applied Arabic numerals and tachymeter scale
- second series: round chronograph buttons, either applied baton or applied Arabic numerals and tachymeter scale
- third series: round chronograph buttons, applied baton numerals and outer seconds divisions
- fourth series, the present watch: round chronograph buttons, applied baton numerals, outer seconds divisions and sapphire crystal

Reference 2499 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 302 & 304, and in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches, Volume II, pp. 306-307.

Offered fresh to market, notably, the present watch was one of Mel Blanc's favorite watches to wear, he was frequently seen wearing the attractive perpetual calendar, shown in the the detail of photograph (Fig. 1).

More from An Evening of Exceptional Watches

View All
View All