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Lot Essay
The present timepiece is a highly attractive first series example of the legendary reference 2526. To add a further layer of exclusivity, this watch was retailed by Gübelin - the retailer signature can be seen just below the base of the hands and above the sub-seconds dial. The timepiece features an enamel dial which adds to the allurement and charm of the timepiece.
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 calibre 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 was 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 were also available with silvered metal dials with diamond indexes.
The reference can be divided in three distinct series:
First series: domed case back, enamel dial and riveted indexes. The dial presents flared holes under each index in order to allow for their setting.
Second series: domed case back, enamel dials with the numerals glued to the surface. The dial presents only two flared holes for the hands.
Third series: flat case back, same dial as on second series and in later examples metal dial.
Fourth series: same as third series, but with new calibre 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 calibre 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 was 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 were also available with silvered metal dials with diamond indexes.
The reference can be divided in three distinct series:
First series: domed case back, enamel dial and riveted indexes. The dial presents flared holes under each index in order to allow for their setting.
Second series: domed case back, enamel dials with the numerals glued to the surface. The dial presents only two flared holes for the hands.
Third series: flat case back, same dial as on second series and in later examples metal dial.
Fourth series: same as third series, but with new calibre 27-460