Fifteen years ago, the present Patek Philippe “Twenty-Four-Ninety-Nine” cased in pink gold and retiled by the famous and most prestigious Italian retailer, Gobbi Milano was offered for the first time at public auction. In May 2007 at Christie's in Geneva the watch sold for a record breaking 2.7m Swiss Francs making it the world record price for a reference 2499, a record that held for many years to come.

There are nine pink gold 2nd series examples known, including this watch. All of the watches feature applied baton numerals and this example is the only one of these known to feature a retailer's signature on the dial.

The famous Italian retailer, Gobbi Milano and was founded 1842 by Raimondo Gobbi, opening his workshop in Modena. In 1852, the Grand Duke allowed Gobbi to confirm his appointment to “Clockmaker to the Royal Court”. In 1896 the firm moved to Milan, opening a workshop in Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Aldo and Gastone Gobbi, the third generation, worked in the business from the early 1930s, making the shop a leader in Italy in sales of Swiss clocks and today, with more than 170 years of history, the Gobbi company has been in business for more than six generations.

Retailed in very original condition with great flutting to the lugs and a wonderfully aged dial, Sotheby's is delighted to offer this exceptional and important watch to the market.

The Patek Philippe reference 2499 has increased tremendously in popularity in recent years. Due to its generous case proportions and perpetual calendar chronograph movement, the watch is arguably the most collectable reference of a vintage watch anywhere in the world today.

Produced from 1950 until 1985, reference 2499 is recognized as one of the most important wristwatches made by Patek Philippe. The successor to reference 1518 and the predecessor to reference 3970, reference 2499 holds a distinguished place among the firm's exceptional perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatches. With only 349 pieces made in total, or an average of only nine pieces per year, it is an extremely rare piece and one that was made with the utmost attention paid to each detail. Reference 2499 underwent four major evolutions during its 35 year production run. Square chronograph pushers and a tachometer scale distinguish the 1st series, produced between 1950 and 1960. The 2nd series, produced between 1955-1964, introduces round chronograph pushers. A simple dial design designates the 3rd series, which Patek produced from 1960 to 1978, and a sapphire crystal demarcates the 4th series, so called the 2499/00, which was produced between 1978 and 1984.

The present watch has been retained in very original condition. The case with very crisp hallmarks to the outside of the lug and to the case band, the lugs themselves have very nice fluting which is easily recognisable. The dial has a very warm patina and is turning more of an ivory white. The signatures and scales are nicely raised in hard enamel and the back of the dial is showing a beautiful patina confirming how long it has been sitting on top of the movement plate.

十五年前這枚百達翡麗型號 “二•四•九•九” 首次現身拍場，她以粉紅金打造，並由意大利最享負盛名的零售商 Gobbi Milano 發行。在 2007 年五月的佳士得日内瓦腕錶拍賣，她以二百七十萬瑞士法郎天價售出，打破了型號 2499 的拍賣記錄，而久久未被超越。

型號 2499 的 2nd Series 已知只有九枚，都備有巴頓式的時標，當中只有這枚印有零售商的標誌。

Gobbi Milano 於 1842 年由 Raimondo Gobbi 創立，他於摩德納開啓了工作室。1852年大公准許了 Gobbi 成爲 “皇家御用製錶師”。1896 年公司搬到米蘭，在維托里奧•埃馬努埃萊二世大街再開設工作室。第三代傳人 Aldo 及 Gastone Gobbi 早在 1930 年代開始拓展業務，成爲領銜意大利的瑞士鐘錶事業。跨越六個世代，Gobbi 至今已經運行過超過 170 年歷史。

百達翡麗型號 2499 在近年非常受到藏家青睞。有鑒錶殼的完美比例及機芯的萬年曆計時功能，型號或許為世上最值得收藏的 vintage 腕錶。

保存着非常完整的品相，錶耳坑槽清晰可見，錶盤隨年月增長盡顯美感，蘇富比非常榮幸為市場帶來這枚重要及出衆的時計。