Patek Philippe.

A very fine and extremely rare 18ct gold wristwatch with enamel dial and rare luminous indexes, original 18ct gold Patek Philippe bracelet, together with Patek Philippe presentation box, 5 unused period Patek Philippe leather straps in assorted colours, one with an 18ct gold Patek Philippe buckle, original Certificate of Origin and an Extract from the Archives

Ref: 2526, 4th Generation, Case No. 2601114, Movement No.764043, Made in 1956, Sold February 28th 1958
30-jewel Cal.12'''-600 AT movement stamped with the Seal of Geneva Quality Mark, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, straight-line lever escapement, Gyromax balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, swan neck micrometer regulator, 18ct yellow gold guilloché rotor, cream enamel dial with luminous applied yellow gold baton indexes, outer dot minute divisions, subsidiary seconds dial at 6, radium coated yellow gold hands, dial signed Patek Philippe Geneve, polished case with rounded bezel and screw down flat case back, concave lugs, winding crown signed PP, fitted 18ct gold open weave link Patek Philippe bracelet with locking clasp, together with original Patek Philippe black leather fitted box, 5 spare Patek Philippe leather straps in assorted colours, one with a Patek Philippe 18ct gold buckle and Certificate of Origin 36mm.Sold for £24,000 plus Premium and tax

Note:
The Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirms production of the present watch with gold bracelet in 1956 and its subsequent sale on February 28th 1958. It was purchased new by the current vendor and has been stored all of its life in a safety deposit box, its last outing been in 1989 to the Patek Philippe factory in Geneve where the movement underwent a complete overhaul. It is exceptionally rare to find an example of the reference 2526 with this type of bracelet, luminous indexes and still in factory condition.

The watch has never been offered at auction before and is a prize piece for the discerning collector.

The reference 2526 was launched by Patek Philippe in 1953 and was the company’s first self-winding wristwatch. It utilised the new caliber 12'''- 600 AT movement, with the serial numbers starting with 760,000. Research shows that 580 examples were produced, 20 examples in platinum, 30 examples in white gold, 50 examples in pink gold and 480 examples in yellow gold. The Ref: 2526 later became the Ref: 3428, which used the second-generation self-winding movement, calibre 27-460. (For an example of the Ref: 3428 see lot 190 in this sale)

There have been four generations of this model:
1st generation: domed screw back, beige enamel dial with applied indexes. The enamel is flared around the holes, which hold the indexes, the central hands and the subsidiary second’s hand.

2nd generation: domed screw back, beige enamel dial with applied indexes. The indexes are inlaid in the enamel surface; the enamel is flared around the holes, which hold the central hands and the subsidiary second’s hand.

3rd generation: identical to the 2nd generation but with a practically flat screw back.

4th generation: practically flat screw back, beige enamel dial with applied indexes. The indexes are luminescent and inlaid in the enamel surface; the enamel is flared around the holes, which hold the central hands and the subsidiary second’s hand

The model is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition, pp.168 & 169

Bonhams. Fine Watches and Wristwatches, 13 Dec 2007. New Bond Street