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Lot Essay
It was a mystery that perplexed collectors of Patek Philippe watches for many years: What were the origin of these gold Patek Philippe reference 2526 and 2552 watches with 'Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You' ('Duo') on the dial in a semi-circle on the dial? It was after some discovery, that it was determined these 'Golden Rule' watches were all believed to be ordered by then-Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson as expensive gifts through Tiffany & Co. in the 1950s.
At least one was given to Senator George Smathers of Florida in 1956 while others were gifts to elected officials and campaign supporters of then-Senator Johnson. Two of these watches are in the LBJ Museum, while a number have come to market and auction over the years. Given the high cost of these watches, one must believe that they were gifts for very important people. Previously, auction houses called these watches with these dials 'Masonic' Pateks, which could be somewhat correct as LBJ was initiated as a Mason in 1937, although it is understood that he did not pursue it after that time.
Fresh to market, the story of the present 2526 is fascinating and wonderfully complements the history of the LBJ 'Duo' watches. Originally gifted from Johnson to Senator Robert Kerr of Oklahoma, Mr. Kerr then graciously gifted the timepiece years later to a pilot (grandfather of present owner) who skillfully navigated and safely landed the Senator through a tumultuous storm.
What makes the present 'Duo' watch particularly interesting is that it is one of the earliest known examples and is perhaps the original 'Duo' dial design as Lyndon B. Johnson owned the exact configuration which was also fitted on a signed Tiffany & Co. 18k gold bracelet. Only 3 watches with this dial are publicly known, and President Johnson's and the present watch are incredibly only 2 case numbers away from one another. They are distinctive as the 'Tiffany & Co' is located at the edge of 12 o'clock. Furthermore, the movement has a HOX stamp, indicating its original importation to the United States, just as for the other known 2526 and 2552 examples. Well-known to astute collectors, Tiffany & Co. in New York modified the original dials on special order for president Lyndon B. Johnson. We are pleased to offer the timepiece with an Extract from the Archives, confirming the existence of this special and historically important wristwatch.
Reference 2526
Introduced into the market in 1952, reference 2526 was Patek Philippe's first self-winding or automatic watch, starting with movement number 760'000. The model features the legendary caliber 12-600 AT which was granted Swiss patent no. 289758 in 1953 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.
At least one was given to Senator George Smathers of Florida in 1956 while others were gifts to elected officials and campaign supporters of then-Senator Johnson. Two of these watches are in the LBJ Museum, while a number have come to market and auction over the years. Given the high cost of these watches, one must believe that they were gifts for very important people. Previously, auction houses called these watches with these dials 'Masonic' Pateks, which could be somewhat correct as LBJ was initiated as a Mason in 1937, although it is understood that he did not pursue it after that time.
Fresh to market, the story of the present 2526 is fascinating and wonderfully complements the history of the LBJ 'Duo' watches. Originally gifted from Johnson to Senator Robert Kerr of Oklahoma, Mr. Kerr then graciously gifted the timepiece years later to a pilot (grandfather of present owner) who skillfully navigated and safely landed the Senator through a tumultuous storm.
What makes the present 'Duo' watch particularly interesting is that it is one of the earliest known examples and is perhaps the original 'Duo' dial design as Lyndon B. Johnson owned the exact configuration which was also fitted on a signed Tiffany & Co. 18k gold bracelet. Only 3 watches with this dial are publicly known, and President Johnson's and the present watch are incredibly only 2 case numbers away from one another. They are distinctive as the 'Tiffany & Co' is located at the edge of 12 o'clock. Furthermore, the movement has a HOX stamp, indicating its original importation to the United States, just as for the other known 2526 and 2552 examples. Well-known to astute collectors, Tiffany & Co. in New York modified the original dials on special order for president Lyndon B. Johnson. We are pleased to offer the timepiece with an Extract from the Archives, confirming the existence of this special and historically important wristwatch.
Reference 2526
Introduced into the market in 1952, reference 2526 was Patek Philippe's first self-winding or automatic watch, starting with movement number 760'000. The model features the legendary caliber 12-600 AT which was granted Swiss patent no. 289758 in 1953 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.