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Lot Essay
It is a great privilege for Christie’s to present this fascinating reference 2499/100J. It is, for even the most demanding of collectors, a great opportunity to discover, handle and possess such an important addition to the known specimens of the fourth series reference 2499⁄100. Until the discovery of the present watch, which was previously completely unknown to the market, only one other Mark 1 reference 2499/100J with tachymeter scale dial was thought to exist.
119 reference 2499/100J were made in total, all in yellow gold apart from 2 examples in platinum. Known as the ‘Fourth Series’, they were made from 1978 until 1985 and were the final version of reference 2499. The cases were made either by Wenger (Mark 1) and later examples in-house by Ateliers Reunis (Mark 2). The dials of the reference 2499/100J standard production model is always without timing scales except for a very small number with a tachymeter scale. In total, only 5 examples featuring a tachymeter scale are known publicly. The present watch is the earliest of only two known specimens with a ‘Mark 1’ case made by Wenger, both made in 1981, the ‘sister’ watch was sold by Christie’s Geneva in 2018 and has the immediately ascending movement no. 869’419 and case no. 2’779’168 to the present watch. The other three reference 2499/100J with tachymeter scale were made in 1984 and 1985 and are ‘Mark 2’ with cases made by Atelier Reunis.
Reference 2499/100J known with tachymeter dial:
M. 869’418, C. 2’779’167 - 1981 - THE PRESENT WATCH
M. 869’419, C. 2’779’168 - 1981 - Christie’s Geneva, 12 November 2018, lot 112, sold CHF 672,500
M. 869’264, C. 2’792’120 - 1984 - Private Collection
M. 869’395, C. 2’779’156 - 1984 - Private Collection
M. 869’428, C. 2’779’189 - 1985 - Private Collection
Reference 2499/100J T, movement no. 869’418, case no. 2’779’167
The Dial
Fully restored by Patek Philippe, made around 1981 by Stern Creations on a solid gold base, with applied lapidated gold hour markers, printed signature, scales and registers, matte silver ‘satiné-opalin’ surface finish. The moon phase is artisan enamelled on a gold base plate. The ‘Dauphine’ hour and minutes hands are gold, as are the ‘feuille’ subsidiary seconds and date hand. The chronograph and register hands are made from flamed blued steel. The days of the week and the months are in English.
According to the references scratched on the reverse of the dial, restorations were made in the years 1985, 1987 and 1998. The dial surface has been resilvered and reprinted, with a final Zapon layer applied to protect it. The initials of the restorer ‘JJ’ have been found on other Patek Philippe dials and research by the leading scholars of Patek Philippe has indicated that the restorer with initials ‘JJ’ was employed by Patek Philippe’s dial maker Stern Frères for over 35 years.
The Case
Serial no. 2’779’167, made in 1981 by Wenger, one of the all-time best Geneva Master case makers and is punched with his mark of number 1 within a key. Of three-piece construction with snapped bezel and back. Well preserved and maintaining full proportions despite polishing over the years, the winding crown and chronograph pushers are original and can be attributed to Boninchi Frères of Geneva.
The Movement
Serial no. 869’418, cal. 13 130 Q, made in 1981, rhodium plated brass, based on a valjoux 13’’’ ébauche, finished by Patek Philippe to the highest standards of the time, under dial modifications by the Victorin Piguet workshop in order to receive the perpetual calendar function, stamped with the Geneva seal, 23 jewels, monometallic balance with 8 adjustments, micrometric precision regulator.
We are grateful to Eric and Gabriel Tortella for their assistance and study in researching this watch.
Reference 2499
Widely acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest-ever vintage watch models, the 2499 has exerted a strong influence on the designs of many of the most renowned watchmakers. Over a period of 35 years, the 2499 was made in four separate series in a total production of only 349 pieces, the majority cased in yellow gold. A 2499 is considered the ultimate statement watch today, instantly recognizable and coveted by collectors of modern and vintage alike. The story of the perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch walks hand in hand with the history of Patek Philippe itself. These technically remarkable timepieces so closely linked to the fortunes of the company over the last 80 years, are justifiably the ultimate ownership goal of collectors worldwide.
Reference 2499 is generally divided into the following four series:
- first series: square chronograph buttons, applied Arabic numerals and tachometer scale
- second series: round chronograph buttons, either applied baton or applied Arabic numerals and tachometer scale
- third series: round chronograph buttons, applied baton numerals and outer seconds divisions
- fourth series: round chronograph buttons, applied baton numerals, outer seconds divisions and sapphire crystal
119 reference 2499/100J were made in total, all in yellow gold apart from 2 examples in platinum. Known as the ‘Fourth Series’, they were made from 1978 until 1985 and were the final version of reference 2499. The cases were made either by Wenger (Mark 1) and later examples in-house by Ateliers Reunis (Mark 2). The dials of the reference 2499/100J standard production model is always without timing scales except for a very small number with a tachymeter scale. In total, only 5 examples featuring a tachymeter scale are known publicly. The present watch is the earliest of only two known specimens with a ‘Mark 1’ case made by Wenger, both made in 1981, the ‘sister’ watch was sold by Christie’s Geneva in 2018 and has the immediately ascending movement no. 869’419 and case no. 2’779’168 to the present watch. The other three reference 2499/100J with tachymeter scale were made in 1984 and 1985 and are ‘Mark 2’ with cases made by Atelier Reunis.
Reference 2499/100J known with tachymeter dial:
M. 869’418, C. 2’779’167 - 1981 - THE PRESENT WATCH
M. 869’419, C. 2’779’168 - 1981 - Christie’s Geneva, 12 November 2018, lot 112, sold CHF 672,500
M. 869’264, C. 2’792’120 - 1984 - Private Collection
M. 869’395, C. 2’779’156 - 1984 - Private Collection
M. 869’428, C. 2’779’189 - 1985 - Private Collection
Reference 2499/100J T, movement no. 869’418, case no. 2’779’167
The Dial
Fully restored by Patek Philippe, made around 1981 by Stern Creations on a solid gold base, with applied lapidated gold hour markers, printed signature, scales and registers, matte silver ‘satiné-opalin’ surface finish. The moon phase is artisan enamelled on a gold base plate. The ‘Dauphine’ hour and minutes hands are gold, as are the ‘feuille’ subsidiary seconds and date hand. The chronograph and register hands are made from flamed blued steel. The days of the week and the months are in English.
According to the references scratched on the reverse of the dial, restorations were made in the years 1985, 1987 and 1998. The dial surface has been resilvered and reprinted, with a final Zapon layer applied to protect it. The initials of the restorer ‘JJ’ have been found on other Patek Philippe dials and research by the leading scholars of Patek Philippe has indicated that the restorer with initials ‘JJ’ was employed by Patek Philippe’s dial maker Stern Frères for over 35 years.
The Case
Serial no. 2’779’167, made in 1981 by Wenger, one of the all-time best Geneva Master case makers and is punched with his mark of number 1 within a key. Of three-piece construction with snapped bezel and back. Well preserved and maintaining full proportions despite polishing over the years, the winding crown and chronograph pushers are original and can be attributed to Boninchi Frères of Geneva.
The Movement
Serial no. 869’418, cal. 13 130 Q, made in 1981, rhodium plated brass, based on a valjoux 13’’’ ébauche, finished by Patek Philippe to the highest standards of the time, under dial modifications by the Victorin Piguet workshop in order to receive the perpetual calendar function, stamped with the Geneva seal, 23 jewels, monometallic balance with 8 adjustments, micrometric precision regulator.
We are grateful to Eric and Gabriel Tortella for their assistance and study in researching this watch.
Reference 2499
Widely acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest-ever vintage watch models, the 2499 has exerted a strong influence on the designs of many of the most renowned watchmakers. Over a period of 35 years, the 2499 was made in four separate series in a total production of only 349 pieces, the majority cased in yellow gold. A 2499 is considered the ultimate statement watch today, instantly recognizable and coveted by collectors of modern and vintage alike. The story of the perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch walks hand in hand with the history of Patek Philippe itself. These technically remarkable timepieces so closely linked to the fortunes of the company over the last 80 years, are justifiably the ultimate ownership goal of collectors worldwide.
Reference 2499 is generally divided into the following four series:
- first series: square chronograph buttons, applied Arabic numerals and tachometer scale
- second series: round chronograph buttons, either applied baton or applied Arabic numerals and tachometer scale
- third series: round chronograph buttons, applied baton numerals and outer seconds divisions
- fourth series: round chronograph buttons, applied baton numerals, outer seconds divisions and sapphire crystal