.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Exract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1954 and its subsequent sale on 23 June 1958. The watch is further delivered with a copy of a Patek Philippe servicing invoice dated 14 January 2010 and a Patek Philippe contemporary fitted red presentation box.
The current watch is a very beautiful example of Patek Philippe's much sought after reference 2438/1. It is a rare opportunity for the astute enthusiast to obtain this exquisite reference from a private collector. The previous first two owners since the watch was originally sold in 1958 have always and exclusively chosen Patek Philippe's workshops in Geneva to overhaul this masterpiece. The watch was, in fact, last overhauled in 2010 for over CHF 5,000.
While an established provenance is always an asset for a collectible timepiece, this watch must be considered one of the best pieces of this reference to still exist due to its overall very good condition. Not only has the case been hardly ever touched, but the details on the watch are superlative. The trained eye will recognize the various distinctive features, such as the graceful fluting to the lugs, the lovely shine of the dial together with the entrancing moon phases and the still wonderfully raised hard enamel signature and outer seconds scale.
Only a very small number of this reference have been made and the sale offers an exciting and rare opportunity to acquire this highly desirable watch at auction.
Ref. 2438/1
In 1951, Patek Philippe launched reference 2497 (see lot 297 in this auction) and its water-resistant counterpart, reference 2438/1, the firm's only vintage perpetual calendar wristwatch made in series with a screw back. A combined total of only 179 examples of these two models were produced, the majority cased in yellow gold. Reference 2438/1 is generally divided into two different series:
- the first with applied Arabic numerals and dauphine hands
- the second series, such as the present watch, with applied baton numerals and dauphine hands
Reference 2438/1 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 284.
The current watch is a very beautiful example of Patek Philippe's much sought after reference 2438/1. It is a rare opportunity for the astute enthusiast to obtain this exquisite reference from a private collector. The previous first two owners since the watch was originally sold in 1958 have always and exclusively chosen Patek Philippe's workshops in Geneva to overhaul this masterpiece. The watch was, in fact, last overhauled in 2010 for over CHF 5,000.
While an established provenance is always an asset for a collectible timepiece, this watch must be considered one of the best pieces of this reference to still exist due to its overall very good condition. Not only has the case been hardly ever touched, but the details on the watch are superlative. The trained eye will recognize the various distinctive features, such as the graceful fluting to the lugs, the lovely shine of the dial together with the entrancing moon phases and the still wonderfully raised hard enamel signature and outer seconds scale.
Only a very small number of this reference have been made and the sale offers an exciting and rare opportunity to acquire this highly desirable watch at auction.
Ref. 2438/1
In 1951, Patek Philippe launched reference 2497 (see lot 297 in this auction) and its water-resistant counterpart, reference 2438/1, the firm's only vintage perpetual calendar wristwatch made in series with a screw back. A combined total of only 179 examples of these two models were produced, the majority cased in yellow gold. Reference 2438/1 is generally divided into two different series:
- the first with applied Arabic numerals and dauphine hands
- the second series, such as the present watch, with applied baton numerals and dauphine hands
Reference 2438/1 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 284.