Condition Report
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Description
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Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
Year: 1951
Reference No: 725/2
Movement No: 931’099
Case No: 697’636
Model Name: American Calendar
Material: 18K yellow gold
Calibre: Manual, cal.17”’170, 18 jewels
Dimensions: 46mm diameter
Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1951 and its subsequent sale on 4 December 1957.
Catalogue Essay
The ref. 725 is part of a line of perpetual calendar pocket watches produced from the early 1940s with the DNA of Patek Philippe’s iconic wristwatch references such as the 1518, 1526, 2497, and 2499. It was offered in a variety of dial configurations with known reference variants of 725/1, 725/2, 725/3, and 725/4, and encased in yellow gold, pink gold, and platinum.

In the 1940s, Patek had introduced the "Bell Pendant" ref. 706 pocket watch, followed by the ref. 715. The ref. 725 was the next evolution of this perpetual calendar pocket watch line, with its bold 46mm diameter size and sleek modernist style. The cases for all ref. 725 variants were produced by renowned casemaker Wenger.

The rarest of these is the ref. 725/2 dial configuration, of which only less than 20 examples in yellow gold are known to exist. It featured a Victorin Piguet & Cie perpetual calendar ebauche and had one of two display designs, one with four subsidiary dials for the calendar and moonphase, and the other with the “American” linear calendar display like the present example. As one of these scarce pieces known to the market, it is preserved in excellent overall condition and comes with an Extract from the Archives confirming its production in 1951. For the discerning collector of important vintage timepieces, this extraordinary pocket watch is a wonderful example of the traditional workmanship of a bygone era, and a rare opportunity for the connoisseur.
Artist Biography
Patek Philippe
Swiss • 1839
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.
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