Lot Essay
Fresh to market and from the family of the original owner, the former head of the Romanian Red Cross, this remarkably well-preserved yellow gold reference 2526 may feel drastically different to the astute collector as the lugs are full and sharp, likely meaning the watch was never polished. Furthermore, this carefully looked-after enamel dial has sunken flaring around the hour markers and a tall 6 o'clock marker, indicating its early production and classification as a First Series MK II dial. Treasured amongst top collectors, this watch presents as a staple in any collection and is an increasingly rare opportunity to acquire a well-preserved example.
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'.
The majority of reference 2526 watches were cased in yellow gold, a small series in pink gold and an exceedingly limited number in white gold and platinum. Mainly fitted with enamel dials with applied gold baton numerals, the white gold and platinum examples also had the option of silvered metal dials with diamond indexes.
Reference 2526 can be divided in three distinct series:
First series: domed caseback, enamel dial and riveted indexes. The dial presents flared holes under each index in order to allow for their setting.
Second series: Domed or flat caseback, enamel dials with the numerals glued to the surface. The dial presents only two flared holes for the hands.
Third series: Flat caseback, same dial as on second series and in later examples metal dial.
Fourth series: Same as third series, but with new caliber 27-460.
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'.
The majority of reference 2526 watches were cased in yellow gold, a small series in pink gold and an exceedingly limited number in white gold and platinum. Mainly fitted with enamel dials with applied gold baton numerals, the white gold and platinum examples also had the option of silvered metal dials with diamond indexes.
Reference 2526 can be divided in three distinct series:
First series: domed caseback, enamel dial and riveted indexes. The dial presents flared holes under each index in order to allow for their setting.
Second series: Domed or flat caseback, enamel dials with the numerals glued to the surface. The dial presents only two flared holes for the hands.
Third series: Flat caseback, same dial as on second series and in later examples metal dial.
Fourth series: Same as third series, but with new caliber 27-460.