Patek Philippe

Among Patek Philippe illustrious lineage of perpetual calendar chronographs, reference 2499 sits proudly as the heir of the 1518 and forebearer of reference 3970. In production between 1950 and 1985, over this 35-year period, only 349 specimens were crafted, demonstrating the meticulous attention to detail Patek Philippe invested into each example. 

Over this long span of time, reference 2499 can be classified into four distinct series. The first one, produced between 1950 and 1960 can be distinguished for its square chronograph pushers and tachymeter scale, slightly smaller case and Arabic numerals. From 1955 to 1964, the second series introduced the round pushers commonly associated with the reference and while it retained the tachymeter scale some dials also featured baton indexes as well as Arabic ones. The third series, made between 1960 and 1978 reconfigured the dial design by removing the tachymeter scale and exclusively featuring baton indexes. From 1978 until 1985, the fourth series remained fundamentally indistinguishable from the previous series, the only improvement being the introduction of sapphire crystal. The present watch is a beautiful example of this last series, and in fact after it, only two more pieces were made before reference 2499 was discontinued - one now sits at the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva and the other one was sold at auction in 2012. 

Reference 2499 has captivated collectors and enthusiasts alike with its enduring allure and historic importance, demonstrated and recognised by Patek Philippe itself with the launching of reference 5970 in 2004 as a tribute to the legendary 2499. The present example, accompanied by its Certificate of Origin and retaining good case proportions - the stamp of the present watch, key number 28, attributes its making to Ateliers Réunis - presents a rare opportunity to acquire a wonderful example of Patek Philippe’s horological mastery in the family of perpetual calendar chronographs.