964
Patek Philippe
Ref. 2497
'Secondi al Centro'
An extremely fine and rare gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and moon phase
- Estimate
- HK$800,000 - 1,200,000€87,000 - 131,000$100,000 - 150,000
HK$1,112,500
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Patek Philippe
- Year
- 1954
- Reference No
- 2497
- Movement No
- 888'076
- Case No
- 683'315
- Model Name
- 'Secondi al Centro'
- Material
- 18k gold
- Calibre
- Manual, cal. 27SC Q, 18 jewels, stamped twice with the Geneva Seal
- Bracelet/Strap
- Black <em>Patek Philippe</em> crocodile strap
- Clasp/Buckle
- Associated gilt buckle
- Dimensions
- 37mm diameter
- Signed
- <em>Case, dial and movement signed</em>
- Accessories
- With <em>Patek Philippe</em> Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1956 and its subsequent sale on May 25, 1956.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Two of the most appreciated Patek Philippe vintage models are the perpetual calendar chronographs ref. 1518 and 2499. However, alongside these two iconic models, Patek Philippe also released non-chronograph versions of the timepieces: reference 1526 and the present reference 2497 (and its waterproof twin 2438/1), featuring case and dial designs very closely resembling their chronograph counterparts.
Reference 2497 is in fact one of the rarest vintage perpetual calendar models made by Patek Philippe. It is distinguished by the sweep centre seconds, the only vintage perpetual calendar made by the brand to feature this detail. The uniqueness of this detail earned its Italian nickname "Secondi al Centro". In order to achieve this, Patek Philippe modified a batch of their exquisite calibre 27SC which is counted among the greatest movements of the past century, (SC standing in fact for Seconde au Centre)and was later renamed to 27SC Q - Q for quantième: perpetual. An analysis of the movement numbers highlights how Patek Philippe itself had very strong feelings for the reference: a unique case for the Maison's vintage perpetual calendars, all the movement numbers for reference 2497 and 2438/1 are sequential: 180 calibre 27SC were upgraded, with movement numbers between 888'000 and 888'179. About 115 of these were used for reference 2497, the remaining for ref. 2438/1, thus effectively making these two models the scarcest vintage perpetual calendars serially produced by Patek Philippe.
The dial as well could be considered as a masterpiece of design. Since the 1920s, Patek Philippe followed the Bauhaus dictate of "form follows function", and the dial of reference 2497 is without a doubt one of its most successful application. The wealth of information of the calendar is arranged in an extremely clean and readable way. The fifth of a second combined with Arabic five minutes divisions - typical of pieces from earlier decades - are present, but the elimination of the railway-style and tachymetre scale grants the ensemble more levity.
The present watch - absent from the auction scene for nearly 20 years, having last been publicly seen in 1998 - is a rare occasion for the discerning collector to acquire one of the rarest, attractive and refined Patek Philippe timepieces from the past century.
Reference 2497 is in fact one of the rarest vintage perpetual calendar models made by Patek Philippe. It is distinguished by the sweep centre seconds, the only vintage perpetual calendar made by the brand to feature this detail. The uniqueness of this detail earned its Italian nickname "Secondi al Centro". In order to achieve this, Patek Philippe modified a batch of their exquisite calibre 27SC which is counted among the greatest movements of the past century, (SC standing in fact for Seconde au Centre)and was later renamed to 27SC Q - Q for quantième: perpetual. An analysis of the movement numbers highlights how Patek Philippe itself had very strong feelings for the reference: a unique case for the Maison's vintage perpetual calendars, all the movement numbers for reference 2497 and 2438/1 are sequential: 180 calibre 27SC were upgraded, with movement numbers between 888'000 and 888'179. About 115 of these were used for reference 2497, the remaining for ref. 2438/1, thus effectively making these two models the scarcest vintage perpetual calendars serially produced by Patek Philippe.
The dial as well could be considered as a masterpiece of design. Since the 1920s, Patek Philippe followed the Bauhaus dictate of "form follows function", and the dial of reference 2497 is without a doubt one of its most successful application. The wealth of information of the calendar is arranged in an extremely clean and readable way. The fifth of a second combined with Arabic five minutes divisions - typical of pieces from earlier decades - are present, but the elimination of the railway-style and tachymetre scale grants the ensemble more levity.
The present watch - absent from the auction scene for nearly 20 years, having last been publicly seen in 1998 - is a rare occasion for the discerning collector to acquire one of the rarest, attractive and refined Patek Philippe timepieces from the past century.
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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