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Lot Essay
US$220,000-320,000
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the present watch with silvered dial and raised hour markers in gold in 1943 and its subsequent sale on 14 July 1944. Futhermore delivered with Patek Philippe fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
This reference 1518 offered here for sale at Christie's is a very attractive and overall very well preserved example of this iconic model. Treated with care over the past 70 years, the beauty of its strong case is enhanced by its clearly visible crisp hallmarks to the band and underneath the lug. The hard enamel signature and scales are properly preserved and enhance the already elegant and charismatic dial. Examples such as the present one are hard to come by and should be enthusiastically greeted by any discerning collector wanting to acquire this prestigious model.
Reference 1518 was launched in 1941, and according to literature, only 281 examples were made until 1954, the majority cased in yellow gold. It was furthermore the first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch produced in series by any watch company. The model was later replaced by reference 2499, also a perpetual calendar chronograph, but with a wider diameter and fluted lugs.
Reference 1518 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition p. 231 pl. 386, second edition p. 303 pl. 459, in Armbanduhren - 100 Jahre Entwicklungsgeschichte by Kahlert, Muhe, Brunner, second edition p. 127, and in Time in Gold - Wristwatches by Gerald Viola & Gisbert L. Brunner, p. 140.
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the present watch with silvered dial and raised hour markers in gold in 1943 and its subsequent sale on 14 July 1944. Futhermore delivered with Patek Philippe fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
This reference 1518 offered here for sale at Christie's is a very attractive and overall very well preserved example of this iconic model. Treated with care over the past 70 years, the beauty of its strong case is enhanced by its clearly visible crisp hallmarks to the band and underneath the lug. The hard enamel signature and scales are properly preserved and enhance the already elegant and charismatic dial. Examples such as the present one are hard to come by and should be enthusiastically greeted by any discerning collector wanting to acquire this prestigious model.
Reference 1518 was launched in 1941, and according to literature, only 281 examples were made until 1954, the majority cased in yellow gold. It was furthermore the first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch produced in series by any watch company. The model was later replaced by reference 2499, also a perpetual calendar chronograph, but with a wider diameter and fluted lugs.
Reference 1518 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition p. 231 pl. 386, second edition p. 303 pl. 459, in Armbanduhren - 100 Jahre Entwicklungsgeschichte by Kahlert, Muhe, Brunner, second edition p. 127, and in Time in Gold - Wristwatches by Gerald Viola & Gisbert L. Brunner, p. 140.