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Lot Essay
Christie’s is delighted to present this exceptional example of the extraordinarily rare Patek Philippe 2497 'First Series' in pink gold. Until its first appearance in Spain in July 2024, this timepiece was previously unknown to the market - A similar example, with movement number 888’041 and case number 674’394, was sold by Christie’s Geneva in May 2023 for CHF 1,497,000 (Lot 131) as part of the 'Rare Watches' auction.
This formidable first series example is a true collector's piece, a superb rarity that will delight the future owner with its strong and generous case proportions, well defined stepped lugs and clear hallmarks. Most examples are cased in yellow gold and according to research, the present watch is one of only 7 first series examples known publicly with a pink gold case by Emile Vichet. The silvered dial, made by Stern Frères on a solid gold plate, is in very good overall condition. The two different series of reference 2497 are easily distinguished by their varying dial layouts: the first, such as the present watch, featuring applied Arabic and dot numerals and feuille hands, the second with applied baton numerals and dauphine hands.
Reference 2497 is without a doubt among the rarest, most attractive and important vintage complicated wristwatch models by Patek Philippe. It was in production from 1951 to 1963, and over these 12 years a meagre 115 pieces were made in total. It is powered by the 27SC Q movement, a perpetual calendar upgrade (Q stands for Quantième Perpétuel) of the best manually wound centre seconds movement of the time: 27 SC (SC for Second au Centre). In fact, a specific movement number range was reserved for these movements: from 888’000 to 888’178. This means a total of 179 movements, 115 of them used for reference 2497 and the rest for its waterproof sister model, reference 2438⁄1.
The case of reference 2497 is a virtual carbon copy of the case of reference 2499, without of course the chronograph pushers. As with reference 2499, the case design presents an evolution over time. The first 40 or 50 cases including the present watch were made by Emile Vichet (maker’s mark 9 in a key), the best casemaker of the period who was responsible for casing several other of Patek Philippe’s golden age classics including the 1518 and early series 2499s. The first series Vichet cases are identifiable from their longer, more elongated lugs which feature a prominent curve, the casebacks have a flat centre. The later pieces were cased by Wenger and feature a domed case back and slightly less distinctly curved lugs.
The Dial
Made by Stern Frères with a solid gold base plate, matte silvered finish, applied yellow gold hand-cut Arabic numerals and dots, hand-cut calendar and moon phase windows, champlevé black hard enamel signature, outer seconds track and subsidiary calendar scale, hand-made gold ‘feuille’ hour and minute hands, blued steel seconds hand. The enamelled outer seconds scale, signature and subsidiary calendar dial were first engraved by hand by an engraver artist, the enameller would then fill the engravings and heat the dial at around 900 degrees.
The Case
Case no. 674’395 was made by master case maker Emile Vichet, three-piece 18k pink gold with snap on back and snap on bezel. Gold crown and date correctors. Inside case back with the maker’s signature, punched by Patek Philippe, Switzerland designation always at the same position and punched at the same time as the signature, Swiss ‘Helvetia’ hallmark, 0.750 for the gold title punched by the casemaker, case number generally punched by the casemaker following Patek Philippe’s instructions.
The Movement
Movement no. 888’042, movement caliber 27 SC the first to feature perpetual calendar and sweep centre seconds.
Reference 2497
Produced between 1951 and 1934, reference 2497 was officially launched at the Basel Fair in 1953. It was the first Patek Philippe movement to feature a perpetual calendar and sweep centre seconds. Scholars have concluded that 115 examples were made in total. Of those, 90 were made in yellow gold but only 20 pieces cased in pink gold.
This formidable first series example is a true collector's piece, a superb rarity that will delight the future owner with its strong and generous case proportions, well defined stepped lugs and clear hallmarks. Most examples are cased in yellow gold and according to research, the present watch is one of only 7 first series examples known publicly with a pink gold case by Emile Vichet. The silvered dial, made by Stern Frères on a solid gold plate, is in very good overall condition. The two different series of reference 2497 are easily distinguished by their varying dial layouts: the first, such as the present watch, featuring applied Arabic and dot numerals and feuille hands, the second with applied baton numerals and dauphine hands.
Reference 2497 is without a doubt among the rarest, most attractive and important vintage complicated wristwatch models by Patek Philippe. It was in production from 1951 to 1963, and over these 12 years a meagre 115 pieces were made in total. It is powered by the 27SC Q movement, a perpetual calendar upgrade (Q stands for Quantième Perpétuel) of the best manually wound centre seconds movement of the time: 27 SC (SC for Second au Centre). In fact, a specific movement number range was reserved for these movements: from 888’000 to 888’178. This means a total of 179 movements, 115 of them used for reference 2497 and the rest for its waterproof sister model, reference 2438⁄1.
The case of reference 2497 is a virtual carbon copy of the case of reference 2499, without of course the chronograph pushers. As with reference 2499, the case design presents an evolution over time. The first 40 or 50 cases including the present watch were made by Emile Vichet (maker’s mark 9 in a key), the best casemaker of the period who was responsible for casing several other of Patek Philippe’s golden age classics including the 1518 and early series 2499s. The first series Vichet cases are identifiable from their longer, more elongated lugs which feature a prominent curve, the casebacks have a flat centre. The later pieces were cased by Wenger and feature a domed case back and slightly less distinctly curved lugs.
The Dial
Made by Stern Frères with a solid gold base plate, matte silvered finish, applied yellow gold hand-cut Arabic numerals and dots, hand-cut calendar and moon phase windows, champlevé black hard enamel signature, outer seconds track and subsidiary calendar scale, hand-made gold ‘feuille’ hour and minute hands, blued steel seconds hand. The enamelled outer seconds scale, signature and subsidiary calendar dial were first engraved by hand by an engraver artist, the enameller would then fill the engravings and heat the dial at around 900 degrees.
The Case
Case no. 674’395 was made by master case maker Emile Vichet, three-piece 18k pink gold with snap on back and snap on bezel. Gold crown and date correctors. Inside case back with the maker’s signature, punched by Patek Philippe, Switzerland designation always at the same position and punched at the same time as the signature, Swiss ‘Helvetia’ hallmark, 0.750 for the gold title punched by the casemaker, case number generally punched by the casemaker following Patek Philippe’s instructions.
The Movement
Movement no. 888’042, movement caliber 27 SC the first to feature perpetual calendar and sweep centre seconds.
Reference 2497
Produced between 1951 and 1934, reference 2497 was officially launched at the Basel Fair in 1953. It was the first Patek Philippe movement to feature a perpetual calendar and sweep centre seconds. Scholars have concluded that 115 examples were made in total. Of those, 90 were made in yellow gold but only 20 pieces cased in pink gold.