Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1955 Reference No: 2526 Movement No: 762'141 Case No: 687'827 Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 12-600AT, 30 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle Dimensions: 35.5mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1955 and its subsequent sale on March 20th, 1956.
Catalogue Essay
Patek Philippe’s reference 2526 is a paragon of mid-20th century design aesthetic. The brand’s first self-winding wristwatch, it is a legend in the horological world for both its innovative caliber 12-600AT and classic masculine design with sensual enamel dial. Introduced in 1953, it has a timeless quality that is as contemporary today as it was 66 years ago. The 35.5mm diameter Baumgartner-fabricated case was oversized for the era, but due to its thicker proportions, perfectly suits contemporary tastes when many enthusiasts consider a 40mm diameter watch the standard. The automatic, in-house caliber, produced from 1953 until approximately 1960, is a work of art with the handcrafted 18k gold guilloché bi-directional rotor crested with the PP signature. It is considered by many to be amongst the finest automatic movements ever made, featuring highest grade finishing, and efficient bi-directional winding system allowing for the watch to achieve full power reserve in a relatively short period of time. Over the caliber 12-600’s seven year production period, 7100 movements were made and were featured not only in the reference 2526, but also in references as diverse as the 2540 to the 3425.
The present example is exceptionally well-preserved and a fresh-to-the-market offering, coming from the original family. The first series' off-white enamel dial features the recognizable flared enamel surrounding the top and bottom of each hour marker, as well as around the centers of the hour, minute, and seconds hands. In original, unrestored condition and featuring the prestigious Swiss retailer Gübelin's signature at 6 o’clock, it is a premium example of a reference 2526 featuring so many of the qualities that attract connoisseurs today. Its original state of preservation, easy wearability, and iconic design make this an exceptional wristwatch for any collector.
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.