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Lot 149
Patek Philippe. A fine and very rare 18K pink gold rectangular wristwatch
SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE, GENÈVE, RETAILED BY SERPICO Y LAINO, "MARILYN MONROE" MODEL, REF. 2442, MOVEMENT NO. 974'456, CASE NO. 671'688, MANUFACTURED IN 1952
Closed9 November 2015
Price Realised
CHF 32,500
More Information
Specialist note
With additional silvered Patek Philippe dial, fitted presentation and outer packaging. Furthermore delivered with the Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1952 and its subsequent sale on 25 November 1952.
Consigned by a private collector this reference 2442 is believed to be fresh to the market.
Launched in 1948, reference 2442 is today one of the most appreciated and collectible shape wristwatches ever made. Its voluptuous and iconic case shape remains immediately recognizable among Patek Philippe's production. Aesthetically, its 42.5 mm length grants to it a remarkable wrist presence, making this reference extremely pleasing to wear. It is so appreciated by collectors that, over time, its case design has inspired at least three nicknames: "banana", "osso da morto" (Italian for: dead man's bone) and "Marylin", the name of the most widely recognized icon of femininity came to be because the curve of the case recalls, with its wide top and bottom and narrow center, a perfect female body.
It is powered by the tonneau-shaped calibre 9-90. This movement was specifically developed by Patek Philippe for shape watches, and the case were modelled after the shape of this movements. With shape watches becoming less and less in fashion with the advent of the 1960s, the development of tonneau-shaped movements was discontinued and round movements were used for the few shaped watches the company sold over that time. Even reference 5500, the celebratory "Pagoda" watch launched in the 1990s, features a round movement.
Produced for the majority in yellow gold, pink gold pieces such as the present watch are extremely rare and sought-after. When a pink 2442 is furthermore retailed by revered Caracas retailer Serpico Y Laino, with the monogram stamped to the case back and wonderfully preserved, it jumps to a superior tear of appeal.
Consigned by a private collector this reference 2442 is believed to be fresh to the market.
Launched in 1948, reference 2442 is today one of the most appreciated and collectible shape wristwatches ever made. Its voluptuous and iconic case shape remains immediately recognizable among Patek Philippe's production. Aesthetically, its 42.5 mm length grants to it a remarkable wrist presence, making this reference extremely pleasing to wear. It is so appreciated by collectors that, over time, its case design has inspired at least three nicknames: "banana", "osso da morto" (Italian for: dead man's bone) and "Marylin", the name of the most widely recognized icon of femininity came to be because the curve of the case recalls, with its wide top and bottom and narrow center, a perfect female body.
It is powered by the tonneau-shaped calibre 9-90. This movement was specifically developed by Patek Philippe for shape watches, and the case were modelled after the shape of this movements. With shape watches becoming less and less in fashion with the advent of the 1960s, the development of tonneau-shaped movements was discontinued and round movements were used for the few shaped watches the company sold over that time. Even reference 5500, the celebratory "Pagoda" watch launched in the 1990s, features a round movement.
Produced for the majority in yellow gold, pink gold pieces such as the present watch are extremely rare and sought-after. When a pink 2442 is furthermore retailed by revered Caracas retailer Serpico Y Laino, with the monogram stamped to the case back and wonderfully preserved, it jumps to a superior tear of appeal.