215
Patek Philippe
Ref. 1518
A very attractive and extremely rare yellow gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moonphases
- Estimate
- CHF300,000 - 500,000€278,000 - 463,000$297,000 - 495,000
CHF322,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Patek Philippe
- Year
- 1948
- Reference No
- 1518
- Movement No
- 867'534
- Case No
- 657'242
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Manual, cal. 13'''130 Q, 23 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18k yellow gold PPCo pin buckle
- Dimensions
- 35mm. Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial and movement signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives confirming manufacture of the watch in 1948 and its subsequent sale on June 16th, 1950.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Rarely has a timepiece had such an impact on watchmaking.
Not only is Patek Philippe’s reference 1518, launched in 1941, the very first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch to be made in series, and not only did it set the design elements used by Patek Philippe in all of its subsequent perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatches, it also set the benchmark for the market. Patek Philippe was the only manufacture offering this complication for close to 40 years!
Scholarship indicates that only 281 examples of reference 1518 were made between 1941 and 1954, in yellow and pink gold as well as only four in stainless steel.
The present lot is a very attractive example of this horological milestone. The masculine case has wonderful presence with its long lugs and wide opening for the dial enhancing the impression of size. The dial bewilders with its silver sheen, perfectly crisp printing and overall impressive condition.
Patek’s exquisitely finished, manually-wound caliber 13’’’130 Q beats within and the Geneva seal indicates the painstaking and exquisite finishing applied to each and every component. Renowned casemaker, Emile Vichet S.A., was responsible for manufacturing cases for some of Patek Philippe’s most coveted references. It is evident that Vichet was the casemaker for the present lot as indicated by the Poinçon de Maître key 9, also known as a collective responsibility mark, found beneath the reference and case number on the inner caseback.
This reference 1518 has remained in an important private collection since its purchase at auction in 1987 and is returning back to the market 30 years later.
The present lot does not only represent and exceptional example of Patek Philippes unparalleled mechanical expertise but is also a landmark in horological design.
Not only is Patek Philippe’s reference 1518, launched in 1941, the very first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch to be made in series, and not only did it set the design elements used by Patek Philippe in all of its subsequent perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatches, it also set the benchmark for the market. Patek Philippe was the only manufacture offering this complication for close to 40 years!
Scholarship indicates that only 281 examples of reference 1518 were made between 1941 and 1954, in yellow and pink gold as well as only four in stainless steel.
The present lot is a very attractive example of this horological milestone. The masculine case has wonderful presence with its long lugs and wide opening for the dial enhancing the impression of size. The dial bewilders with its silver sheen, perfectly crisp printing and overall impressive condition.
Patek’s exquisitely finished, manually-wound caliber 13’’’130 Q beats within and the Geneva seal indicates the painstaking and exquisite finishing applied to each and every component. Renowned casemaker, Emile Vichet S.A., was responsible for manufacturing cases for some of Patek Philippe’s most coveted references. It is evident that Vichet was the casemaker for the present lot as indicated by the Poinçon de Maître key 9, also known as a collective responsibility mark, found beneath the reference and case number on the inner caseback.
This reference 1518 has remained in an important private collection since its purchase at auction in 1987 and is returning back to the market 30 years later.
The present lot does not only represent and exceptional example of Patek Philippes unparalleled mechanical expertise but is also a landmark in horological design.
Literature
Patek Philippe
Swiss | 1839Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.
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