Patek Philippe. A fine 18K gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with phases of the moon

The present watch is a very honest example of the celebrated reference 1526, distinguished by its very attractive overall condition. During a servcing most likely in the workshops of Patek Philippe the dial has been professionally restored, now displaying a great shine, signatures and scales still nicely raised. The case has not been subject to careless polishing, the hallmarks still clearly visible.

Reference 1526
Reference 1526 is doubtlessly one of Patek Philippe's most elegant and timeless models, produced in an exceedingly small series of only 210 examples. With the exception of a unique piece in steel, this reference was available predominantly in yellow gold such as the present watch and a fraction in pink gold.

In production from 1940 to 1952, this masterpiece of elegance combines a Calatrava-style case and a minimalist dial audaciously ahead of its time. In fact, a similar style of dial layout - with a subsidiary dial at 6 o'clock and openings for day of the week and month at 12 - can be found in Patek Philippe perpetual calendar watches over the following three decades, most notably references 2497, 2438/1, 3448 and 3450.

Reference 1526 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, first edition, p. 215, and in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches Volume II, pp. 288-289.