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Lot Essay
Accompanied by a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with rose dial and applied rose gold hour markers in 1942 and its subsequent sale on December 23rd of the same year.
Reference 1545 is by far one of the rarest models by Patek Philippe. In production for only one or two years around 1942, the total output for this reference is an outstandingly meager 12 examples. Of these 12 examples, only one, in yellow and pink gold, is known from the market. The present watch, previously unknown, is the only example in pink gold to ever appear for public sale.
Reference 1545 is part of a collection of five models (together with references 1540, 1548, 1550 and 1551) all produced around the same time in extremely limited quantities and characterized by hooded lugs and a very peculiar dial design: the applied hour markers combined with the applied five seconds markers of the subsidiary seconds’ dial convey the vague impression of a sky chart. This is because these references are collectively known as “Comet” by the collectors’ community. The elaborate lugs’ shape is a precursor to the fancy cases which will characterized later productions, especially during the 1950s and 60s. It is probable that such an avant-garde design did not agree with the general mood of war-times, and this would explain the incredibly rarefied output and equally short production span.
A further layer of technical appeal is given by the fact that this is one of the very few references to feature applied gold markers overlapping the hard enamel scaled. The obvious complexity of applying the markers without compromising the enamel integrity explains why this methodology was so rarely used.
As the sticker to the case back suggests, this watch was fully serviced by Patek Philippe, which brought this Comet back to its former glory.
Reference 1545 is by far one of the rarest models by Patek Philippe. In production for only one or two years around 1942, the total output for this reference is an outstandingly meager 12 examples. Of these 12 examples, only one, in yellow and pink gold, is known from the market. The present watch, previously unknown, is the only example in pink gold to ever appear for public sale.
Reference 1545 is part of a collection of five models (together with references 1540, 1548, 1550 and 1551) all produced around the same time in extremely limited quantities and characterized by hooded lugs and a very peculiar dial design: the applied hour markers combined with the applied five seconds markers of the subsidiary seconds’ dial convey the vague impression of a sky chart. This is because these references are collectively known as “Comet” by the collectors’ community. The elaborate lugs’ shape is a precursor to the fancy cases which will characterized later productions, especially during the 1950s and 60s. It is probable that such an avant-garde design did not agree with the general mood of war-times, and this would explain the incredibly rarefied output and equally short production span.
A further layer of technical appeal is given by the fact that this is one of the very few references to feature applied gold markers overlapping the hard enamel scaled. The obvious complexity of applying the markers without compromising the enamel integrity explains why this methodology was so rarely used.
As the sticker to the case back suggests, this watch was fully serviced by Patek Philippe, which brought this Comet back to its former glory.