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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the production of the present watch with diamond-set dial in 1956 and its subsequent sale on 2 March 1957.
Reference 2526 cased in platinum and further enhanced with the rare diamond-set dial is the rarest version within the family of this iconic model. According to research the present watch is one of only twelve examples of such variant to appear in public to date.
The combination of the elegant look of the diamond-set dial, the platinum case material, the state of the art self-winding movement and the excellent original overall condition render the present watch a highly appealing catch for the aficionado of this great model.
Reference 2526
Reference 2526 and its successor 3428 are undisputedly amongst the most elegant and distinguished vintage watches ever made.
Reference 2526 was introduced into the market in 1952 and was Patek Philippe's first automatic watch ever made, starting with movement number 760'000 (delivered in July 1953 to Mr. J.B. Champion, one of Patek Philippe's faithful clients. This watch, fitted with a gold bracelet, is today the pride of a discerning collector). The model features the legendary calibre 12-600 AT which was granted Swiss patent No. 289758 in 1953 for "a self-winding mechanism for a wristwatch movement using the energy supplied by a rotary mass causing an eccentric part to transmit a swinging movement to an organ of the mechanism".
The majority of reference 2526 was cased in yellow gold (see lot 330 in this auction), a small series in pink gold (see lot 247) and an exceedingly limited number in white gold and in platinum.
Other examples of reference 2526 are illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, 1st edition pp. 168-169, 2nd edition pp. 213, 216-217.
Reference 2526 cased in platinum and further enhanced with the rare diamond-set dial is the rarest version within the family of this iconic model. According to research the present watch is one of only twelve examples of such variant to appear in public to date.
The combination of the elegant look of the diamond-set dial, the platinum case material, the state of the art self-winding movement and the excellent original overall condition render the present watch a highly appealing catch for the aficionado of this great model.
Reference 2526
Reference 2526 and its successor 3428 are undisputedly amongst the most elegant and distinguished vintage watches ever made.
Reference 2526 was introduced into the market in 1952 and was Patek Philippe's first automatic watch ever made, starting with movement number 760'000 (delivered in July 1953 to Mr. J.B. Champion, one of Patek Philippe's faithful clients. This watch, fitted with a gold bracelet, is today the pride of a discerning collector). The model features the legendary calibre 12-600 AT which was granted Swiss patent No. 289758 in 1953 for "a self-winding mechanism for a wristwatch movement using the energy supplied by a rotary mass causing an eccentric part to transmit a swinging movement to an organ of the mechanism".
The majority of reference 2526 was cased in yellow gold (see lot 330 in this auction), a small series in pink gold (see lot 247) and an exceedingly limited number in white gold and in platinum.
Other examples of reference 2526 are illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, 1st edition pp. 168-169, 2nd edition pp. 213, 216-217.