Details
MANUFACTURED IN: 1956
CASE MATERIAL: 18K gold
CASE SIZE: 35.4 mm. diam.
STRAP MATERIAL: This endangered species strap is shown for display purposes only and is not for sale. Upon sale, this watch will be supplied to the buyer with a calf leather strap (not shown)
DIAL: Cream enamel
MOVEMENT: Automatic
FUNCTIONS: Time only
CALIBER: 12-600 AT
WITH: 18K gold Patek Philippe buckle, Certificate of Origin dated 24 January 1959 issued by Chronometrie Beyer, Zurich, service invoices, Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 18K gold with raised gold indexes in 1956 and its subsequent sale on 4 September 1958

+ This lot is subject to standard Swiss VAT rules and 7.7% VAT will be charged on the ‘hammer’ and the ‘buyer’s premium’

Ψ This endangered species strap is shown for display purposes only and is not for sale. Upon sale, this watch will be supplied to the buyer with a black leather strap.


Special notice
This lot is subject to standard Swiss VAT rules and 7.7% VAT will be charged on the ‘hammer’ and the ‘buyer’s premium’
This endangered species strap is shown for display purposes only and is not for sale. Upon sale, this watch will be supplied to the buyer with a black leather strap.
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Lot Essay

Fresh to the market, the present ref. 2526 is accompanied by Certificate of Origin confirming both the enamel dial and the yellow gold case. Furthermore, it was sold by the highly prestigious firm Chronometrie Beyer of Zürich in 1959.

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.

A paragon of understatement and timeless class combined with a state-of-the art movement, reference 2526 has significantly influenced the popularity of wristwatches featuring enamel dials. In 1960, it was replaced by reference 3428, equipped with the second generation self-winding movement, calibre 27-460.

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: such as the present watch: 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 is illustrated in: Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe - Volume II, pp. 244-245.

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