With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1947 and its subsequent sale on December 19th of the same year.
The present watch is engraved on the case back A.Z., Souvenir, 25 ans de Collaboration Patek Philippe & Cie, Geneve, 1922-1947 and was a retirement gift for Andre Zibach.
Mr. Zibach worked for Patek Philippe as a watchmaker upon completion of his diploma at the Geneva Watchmaking School. Between 1950 and 1952, he collaborated with watchmaker Eric Jaccard to construct a tonneau-shaped wristwatch movement with lever escapement, the Calibre 34 S. This was the first of many watches he worked on that would take part in the Geneva Observatory chronometer timing competitions. By 1956, Mr. Zibach was appointed Technical Vice-Manager at Patek Philippe, and worked on a team that invented and improved the Gyromax balance. Mr. Zibach also continued to be responsible for preparing and regulating chronometer watches for observatory trials, which is one of the most difficult tasks in the fields of watchmaking.
During his tenure at Patek Philippe, Mr. Zibach worked on the movement of the celebrated J.B. Champion watch, which certified by the Geneva Observatory and sold at Christie's Geneva in November 2012 for a record CHF 3,779,000.
The reference 1582 features an attractive modernist dial and case design, and the movement has a bimetallic compensation balance and micrometre regulator. The movement of the present watch has been modified, and the balance wheel and bridge were replaced with a Gyromax balance. This modification was likely done by Andrew Zibach, to put his own personal touch on the movement of a watch that was given to him by the company he dedicated so many years to.
Production of reference 1582 was launched in 1944 and ceased around 1949. The model is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by M. Huber & A. Banbery, second edition, p. 176, pl. 277