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Lot Essay
Accompanied by a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with silvery rose dial and rose gold indexes in 1942 and its subsequent sale on June 30th of the following year.
Even among experienced collectors, reference 591 is one of the least known chronograph models of Patek Philippe's production. In fact, research indicates that less than 30 examples of this reference have survived to date, either cased in yellow or pink gold. This exceedingly small production renders it rarer than any other chronograph model of the same period. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge this watch has never before been offered in public.
Reference 591, launched in 1938, differs from all other Patek Philippe chronographs by its generous yet subtle case proportions. Its cylindrical body highlighted by a stepped bezel is crowned with four "bean-shaped" lugs with straight sides. Consequently this reference responds particularly badly to insensible polishing as it quickly loses the angle to the bezel and the edges to the lugs. This example however has a near mint case that barely shows its 73 year old age, best exemplified by the crisp untouched gold hallmark on the 11 o’clock lug. Furthermore, the ‘silvery rose dial’ confirmed on the archive of this watch makes this example of this incredibly rare reference all the more desirable.
Reference 591 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber and Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 266, pl. 411.
Even among experienced collectors, reference 591 is one of the least known chronograph models of Patek Philippe's production. In fact, research indicates that less than 30 examples of this reference have survived to date, either cased in yellow or pink gold. This exceedingly small production renders it rarer than any other chronograph model of the same period. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge this watch has never before been offered in public.
Reference 591, launched in 1938, differs from all other Patek Philippe chronographs by its generous yet subtle case proportions. Its cylindrical body highlighted by a stepped bezel is crowned with four "bean-shaped" lugs with straight sides. Consequently this reference responds particularly badly to insensible polishing as it quickly loses the angle to the bezel and the edges to the lugs. This example however has a near mint case that barely shows its 73 year old age, best exemplified by the crisp untouched gold hallmark on the 11 o’clock lug. Furthermore, the ‘silvery rose dial’ confirmed on the archive of this watch makes this example of this incredibly rare reference all the more desirable.
Reference 591 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber and Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 266, pl. 411.