Inspired by the time-only reference 530, the chronograph variant 530 is an incredibly rare watch, so rare that it was never featured in any Patek Philippe catalogue. The earliest examples date back to 1937, while the last ones were produced in 1962, giving the reference a production span of just over two decades. However, it seems to have been an exclusive timepiece offered to VIP collectors who desired a larger-sized chronograph than the standard production reference 130.
To put this into perspective, its smaller counterpart, the ref. 130, is believed to have been made in approximately 1,500 pieces. In the case of the chronograph 530, only a handful of these watches are known to exist, with literature suggesting that around 140 pieces were made in yellow gold, pink gold, and stainless steel. Out of the 140 examples, approximately 30 were made in pink gold, making it one of the scarcest serially produced pink gold chronograph wristwatches by Patek Philippe. Notably, about half of these pink gold examples have resurfaced in the market.
Boasting a large 36.5mm case diameter, it was very unusual for a vintage Patek Philippe and the concave bezel makes it a very attractive timepiece even in modern days. One interesting aspect of this model is that it can feature two different lug designs. Some have a lug gauge of 21.5mm, while others, like the present watch, have a 19mm gap, giving it a more masculine and modern appearance. The reference 530 is powered by the Valjoux-based 13''' caliber, and the cases were made by one of the best casemakers at that time George Croisier, as identified by the "5" inside a key stamped to the inside case back.
When the watch originally appeared on the market, the dial showed very prominent signs of aging. However, it has been professionally cleaned, bringing back its original shine and beauty. With its exceptionally sharp case, crisp hallmarks on the band, and an equally impressive dial, this timepiece would undoubtedly be considered one of the crown jewels in any of the world's most important vintage watch collections.
