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Lot Essay
This outstanding horological treasure is an exquisite example of Patek Philippe's extraordinarily small production of vintage minute repeating wristwatches. As one of the major highlights of John Shaw’s collection, it can be counted amongst the best preserved and most beautiful specimens of this ultra-rare model to appear on the market in recent years.
Minute repeating is one of the most expensive and skilled complications to be fitted to a wristwatch due to the incredible level of miniaturization and thinness required. It is thought that fewer than 50 pieces of reference 2524⁄1 were ever made, and although each example is part of the reference, they were made as individual pieces and were, in that sense considered as unique by Patek Philippe. Of superb understated elegance and superlative quality, this minute repeater is one of the great mid-century vintage rarities that is so seldom seen at auction. As such it presents a golden opportunity for any collector to acquire an example of Patek Philippe’s remarkable mid-century minute repeating wristwatches.
The Dial
Made by the celebrated Stern Frères, the dial is distinguished by its great readability. With Satiné-opalin finish on a solid gold dial plate, it disperses a wonderful shine and impresses with the beautifully raised hard enamel signature and the crisp outer pearled minute divisions. The dial, its surface, the inscriptions, the large ‘Dauphine’ hands and the ‘bullet’ shape faceted hour markers are all correct for this reference.
The Case
The elegant gold case was made by Emile Vichet, one of Patek Philippe's best case makers of the period who was also responsible for the cases of the reference 1518 and some of the legendary reference 2499. Vichet’s maker’s mark of a number 9 within a key is stamped on the inside of the case back. It maintains its full proportions to a great extent, shown by the very well defined recesses at the junctions between the lugs and the case. While enhancing the aesthetical appeal of the watch, this small indentation is very sensitive to careless polishing or excessive wear. Its sharp outlines on the present timepiece accentuate the excellent overall condition of this watch.
The Movement
First quality calibre 12''' movement, the èbauche made by the celebrated Fritz Piguet, it impresses with a clear, well-tuned and melodious repeating sound.
Reference 2524⁄1, successor of reference 2424, was launched in 1955 and made in two versions: the first, such as the present watch, without subsidiary seconds and the repeating mechanism activated by pushing the slide in the band downwards, the second, with subsidiary seconds and the repeating slide to be pushed upwards.
Patek Philippe started development of minute repeating wristwatches presumably as early as 1906, converting a 12''' pocket watch calibre for the use in a wristwatch. As of 1925, the firm officially sold minute repeating wristwatches, the majority being unique pieces featuring different case and dial designs. According to research, only twelve of these early examples are known to exist to date.
It was not until 1948 that Patek Philippe launched the production of minute repeating wristwatches in series and with their own reference numbers, however all made in exceedingly small numbers only. The references known to date are 2419, 2421, 2524, 2524⁄1, 2524⁄2 and 2534.
For over 50 years, until 1989, the year of introduction of references 3974 and 3979 (design directly inspired by reference 2524⁄1 with subsidiary seconds) to celebrate Patek Philippe's 150th anniversary, these models remained the firms' only minute repeating wristwatches made in series.
The Minute Repeater
Immediately after the foundation of Patek Philippe in 1839 the first quarter repeating pocket watches were produced, the earliest minute repeater dates from 1845. It was and still is today one of the firm’s specialities.
Repeating watches strike the hours, quarters and minutes on demand. This fascinating function is one of the most difficult complications to execute and among the greatest horological challenges.
Reference 2524⁄1 is illustrated in: the Blue Book 2, by Eric Tortella, 2019 edition, pp 558-568.
A similar watch is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition p. 243, pl. 402; and second edition p. 317, pl. 473, in Ore d'Oro 2 by Jader Barracca, Giampiero Negretti, Franco Nencini, p. 34; and in Armbanduhren, fifth edition, by Kahlert, Mhe, Brunner, p. 415, pl. 1420⁄1421.
Minute repeating is one of the most expensive and skilled complications to be fitted to a wristwatch due to the incredible level of miniaturization and thinness required. It is thought that fewer than 50 pieces of reference 2524⁄1 were ever made, and although each example is part of the reference, they were made as individual pieces and were, in that sense considered as unique by Patek Philippe. Of superb understated elegance and superlative quality, this minute repeater is one of the great mid-century vintage rarities that is so seldom seen at auction. As such it presents a golden opportunity for any collector to acquire an example of Patek Philippe’s remarkable mid-century minute repeating wristwatches.
The Dial
Made by the celebrated Stern Frères, the dial is distinguished by its great readability. With Satiné-opalin finish on a solid gold dial plate, it disperses a wonderful shine and impresses with the beautifully raised hard enamel signature and the crisp outer pearled minute divisions. The dial, its surface, the inscriptions, the large ‘Dauphine’ hands and the ‘bullet’ shape faceted hour markers are all correct for this reference.
The Case
The elegant gold case was made by Emile Vichet, one of Patek Philippe's best case makers of the period who was also responsible for the cases of the reference 1518 and some of the legendary reference 2499. Vichet’s maker’s mark of a number 9 within a key is stamped on the inside of the case back. It maintains its full proportions to a great extent, shown by the very well defined recesses at the junctions between the lugs and the case. While enhancing the aesthetical appeal of the watch, this small indentation is very sensitive to careless polishing or excessive wear. Its sharp outlines on the present timepiece accentuate the excellent overall condition of this watch.
The Movement
First quality calibre 12''' movement, the èbauche made by the celebrated Fritz Piguet, it impresses with a clear, well-tuned and melodious repeating sound.
Reference 2524⁄1, successor of reference 2424, was launched in 1955 and made in two versions: the first, such as the present watch, without subsidiary seconds and the repeating mechanism activated by pushing the slide in the band downwards, the second, with subsidiary seconds and the repeating slide to be pushed upwards.
Patek Philippe started development of minute repeating wristwatches presumably as early as 1906, converting a 12''' pocket watch calibre for the use in a wristwatch. As of 1925, the firm officially sold minute repeating wristwatches, the majority being unique pieces featuring different case and dial designs. According to research, only twelve of these early examples are known to exist to date.
It was not until 1948 that Patek Philippe launched the production of minute repeating wristwatches in series and with their own reference numbers, however all made in exceedingly small numbers only. The references known to date are 2419, 2421, 2524, 2524⁄1, 2524⁄2 and 2534.
For over 50 years, until 1989, the year of introduction of references 3974 and 3979 (design directly inspired by reference 2524⁄1 with subsidiary seconds) to celebrate Patek Philippe's 150th anniversary, these models remained the firms' only minute repeating wristwatches made in series.
The Minute Repeater
Immediately after the foundation of Patek Philippe in 1839 the first quarter repeating pocket watches were produced, the earliest minute repeater dates from 1845. It was and still is today one of the firm’s specialities.
Repeating watches strike the hours, quarters and minutes on demand. This fascinating function is one of the most difficult complications to execute and among the greatest horological challenges.
Reference 2524⁄1 is illustrated in: the Blue Book 2, by Eric Tortella, 2019 edition, pp 558-568.
A similar watch is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition p. 243, pl. 402; and second edition p. 317, pl. 473, in Ore d'Oro 2 by Jader Barracca, Giampiero Negretti, Franco Nencini, p. 34; and in Armbanduhren, fifth edition, by Kahlert, Mhe, Brunner, p. 415, pl. 1420⁄1421.