Patek Philippe

At the Basel Fair of 1953, Patek Philippe introduced a wristwatch that would go on to become known as one of the most beautiful and timeless pieces the brand has ever created: reference 2526. Indeed, it was the perfect combination of outer beauty and technical prowess.

Housed within the case was Patek Philippe’s first ever automatic movement. Though it may seem that 1953 is quite late for the introduction of a premier attempt at self-winding technology, this was because Rolex had patented the 'perpetual', or full-rotor self-winding movement 20 years prior, legally prohibiting any other brand from making their own. In reality, it is safe to say that Patek Philippe had been working on the movement for years or even over a decade, endlessly perfecting it until the Rolex patent expired. The resulting calibre 12-600 AT was not only beautifully decorated, but it was also technically superior to other movements of the period. Featuring an astonishing 30 jewels, double the industry standard at the time and indeed more than most modern movements, while also pioneering the 'Gyromax' adjustable inertia balance spring technology which is still in use today, the accuracy of the movement could be tuned to a staggering +/- 1 second per day.

The aesthetics of the watch did not lag behind the technology housed within, featuring dials made of twice-baked enamel. Enamel dials are scarce to this day, due to the difficult manufacturing process, but was well worth it in the end, with the product being a glossy, milky dial that was seemingly bottomless when inspected up close. Though envisioned to last forever, as enamel was considered to be impervious to weathering and patina, over time many dials have taken on a more creamy colour, and over time are quite prone to cracking. This is why examples with pristine enamel dials have become increasingly sought after for discerning collectors.

The present 2526, like the rest of its reference, is a true beauty. Featuring pristine enamel dial and the beautiful calibre 12-600 AT, it comes cased in yellow gold. Though reference 2526 was a serially produced watch, exceedingly small amounts have resurfaced on the market, with only 320 examples appearing in the present case metal. This lot offers collectors the opportunity to own a truly iconic Patek Philippe reference, considered by collectors to be one of the most beautiful time-only watches made by any brand.