Patek Philippe’s groundbreaking reference 1526 is a landmark model, being the very first serially produced perpetual calendar wristwatch. Launched in 1941 and in production until 1952, it set a new standard for the brand and established benchmarks for future perpetual calendar references.

The apparent simplicity of the case and dial belies the intricately complicated movement, which mechanically calculates the length of each month throughout the year while also accounting for leap years. During its production run, only 210 pieces of the reference 1526 were made, with the vast majority in yellow gold, a very limited number in pink gold, and only one known example in steel. The case was crafted by Emile Vichet, renowned for making the legendary cases of the ref. 1518 and many of the early series ref. 2499.

This particular example in yellow gold is very well-preserved and features an attractive dial with minimalist Arabic numerals. The case is equally impressive, displaying crisp hallmarks on the caseband and beneath the lug. Its surface has developed a lovely layer of patina from aging, suggesting that this beautiful timepiece has been kept in a safe for an extended period. The watch is further accompanied by a confirmation letter from Patek Philippe from the 1980s, along with two Extracts from the Archives dated 1990 and 2025, confirming its provenance and details.

A truly important timepiece, it will appeal to collectors seeking not only a well-preserved and extremely rare specimen but also one of the first perpetual calendar wristwatches ever made.