Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1959 Reference No: 2508 Movement No: 708'008 Case No: 2'609'585 Model Name: Calatrava Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual, Cal. 27 SC, 18 jewels, stamped twice with the Geneva Seal Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold pin buckle signed PPCo. Dimensions: 35mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1959 and subsequent sale on November 21, 1959, service papers from the ateliers of Philippe Dufour and travel pouch
Catalogue Essay
Launched in 1951, at 35mm, reference 2508 was quite a large timepiece for the time, when typical gentlemen’s wristwatches measured a mere 33mm diameter. The model was intended for a more intensive and professional use than the usual Patek Philippe dress watch, even featuring a screw-down case back, enabling the watch to be water resistant - a feature found on a small minority of vintage Patek Philippe’s production.
Reference 2508 most notably features center seconds, powered by the calibre 27SC (SC for Secondes au Centre), one of the most appreciated vintage manually-wound center seconds calibers made by any manufacturer. The caliber 27SC also serves as the base for the movements used in some of the most hallowed complicated Patek Philippe vintage models such as the reference 2497. The Taubert-sourced case features the gently downturned and curvaceous lugs seen on the venerable reference 1463.
The present example is in extremely well-preserved condition with a clean crisp dial with raised enamel print and a yellow gold case with crisp hallmarks to the lugs and case back.
In an interesting twist the watch was serviced by Daniella Dufour in July 2020.
Since 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.