Patek Philippe. A fine and rare 18K gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with phases of the moon and original certificate
Patek Philippe. A fine and rare 18K gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with phases of the moon and original certificate
Signed Patek Philippe & Co., Genève, ref. 1518, movement no. 863'713, case no. 644'112, manufactured in 1946
Cal. 13''' nickel-finished lever movement, 23 jewels, bimetallic compensation balance, swan neck regulator, the silvered matte dial with applied gold Arabic numerals, outer tachymetre scale, two windows for day and month, three subsidiary dials indicating constant seconds, 30 minutes register and date combined with phases of the moon, in circular case with extended downturned lugs, snap on back, two rectangular chronograph buttons in the band, 18K gold Patek Philippe buckle, case, dial and movement signed
35 mm. diam.
, END OF SALEAccompanied by Patek Philippe Certificat d'Origine et de Garantie dated 21 June 1947 and Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1946 and its subsequent sale on 21 June 1947. Furthermore delivered with an original Patek Philippe instruction leaflet for the setting of the calendar and the moonphase on perpetual calendar wristwatches and copies of Patek Philippe receipts and invoices for overhaul of the watch in 1984, 1987, 1991, 2002 and 2003. Purchased by the father of the present owner at Patek Philippe in Geneva in 1947, the watch has remained in the family since and has never been offered in public before. Its rarity is further enhanced by the good, well-kept condition and the original certificate. The meticulous first owner had purchased a spare dial from Patek Philippe in case that the original dial would need to be replaced. This dial, made for a reference 2499, is offered as lot 450 in this auction. Reference 1518 was launched in 1941 and according to literature only 281 examples were made until 1954. It was the first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch produced in series by any watch company. The model was later replaced by reference 2499 (see lot 45 in this sale), also a perpetual calendar chronograph, but with a wider diameter and fluted lugs. Reference 1518 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition p. 231 pl. 386, second edition p. 303 pl. 459 and in Armbanduhren - 100 Jahre Entwicklungsgeschichte by Kahlert, Mühe, Brunner, second edition p. 127.
