Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1958 Reference No: 2496 Movement No: 749'076 Case No: 516'615 Material: Platinum Calibre: Manual, cal. 10'''200, 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: Platinum buckle Dimensions: 26mm. Width Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1958 and its subsequent sale on April 22nd, 1959
Catalogue Essay
Introduced to the market in 1951, reference 2496 was made in a variety of case metals and offered with a wide array of dial styles.
The present platinum example with baguette diamond-set bezel features a silvered dial with applied baton hour markers and a subsidiary dial for constant seconds at 6 o’clock. This watch is one of approximately 25 known to the market, differentiating itself from the others with the prestigious Gübelin signature on the dial.
Manufactured in 1958 and sold in 1959, it is considered to be extremely rare. In excellent overall condition, it is accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.
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.