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Lot 322 THE PROPERTY OF AN IMPORTANT AMERICAN COLLECTOR
Patek Philippe. A very fine and exceptionally rare 18K gold automatic wristwatch
SIGNE PATEK PHILIPPE, GENÈVE, RETAILED BY CARTIER, REF. 2552, MOVEMENT NO. 762'963, CASE NO. 693'553, CARTIER NO. 5749, MANUFACTURED IN 1956
Closed9 November 2015
Price Realised
CHF 27,500
More Information
Specialist note
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1956 and its subsequent sale on 5 December 1956.
The present wristwatch is an extremely rare example of Patek Philippe timepiece with the Cartier signature on the dial (and of course with the Cartier numbers under the lugs, as expected by a Cartier-retailed timepiece). As a matter of fact, in depth research shows that the market has seen only another such model signed by Cartier.
By default, Patek Philippe is generally not inclined to let retailer sign dials. Exceptions have been made for retailers with long standing relationship with the manufacturer, historical names such as Beyer, Verga, Tiffany, and Serpico Y Laino. Cartier is indeed one of such firms, however it would seem that its signature is among the most difficult signatures to be found on a Patek Philippe dial. Those exceptional occasions when a new Cartier signed Patek Philippe is discovered are greeted with remarkable excitement by the collectors' community.
In production from 1954 to 1960, reference 2552 is among those Patek Philippe references blessed by the calibre 12-600AT, the first automatic movement by Patek Philippe, universally considered one of the most outstanding automatic movement ever developed and an absolute example of industrial art. Most famously housed in reference 2526, this movement is the result of a momentous technical effort. Suffice to say that the first automatic Patek Philippe was released some twenty years after the first automatic Rolex, but the wait was well rewarded. The architecture and size of this movement allow for particular positioning of the gears and for a relatively large balance wheel, for increased accuracy. The massive 18K rotor is ideal for capturing energy and its lavish finish betrays the care and attention Patek Philippe reserved to this calibre.
Refrence 2552 was available in the three gold colors and in platinum, for a total estimated output of around 650 pieces. The stepped bezel and clean dial are precursor to a trend characterized by sharp case designs and clean, minimalist dials, which will flourish in the 1960s and 1970s. The crown is the typical "back-to-back Ps" Patek Philippe reserved for automatic models at the time.
The present wristwatch is an extremely rare example of Patek Philippe timepiece with the Cartier signature on the dial (and of course with the Cartier numbers under the lugs, as expected by a Cartier-retailed timepiece). As a matter of fact, in depth research shows that the market has seen only another such model signed by Cartier.
By default, Patek Philippe is generally not inclined to let retailer sign dials. Exceptions have been made for retailers with long standing relationship with the manufacturer, historical names such as Beyer, Verga, Tiffany, and Serpico Y Laino. Cartier is indeed one of such firms, however it would seem that its signature is among the most difficult signatures to be found on a Patek Philippe dial. Those exceptional occasions when a new Cartier signed Patek Philippe is discovered are greeted with remarkable excitement by the collectors' community.
In production from 1954 to 1960, reference 2552 is among those Patek Philippe references blessed by the calibre 12-600AT, the first automatic movement by Patek Philippe, universally considered one of the most outstanding automatic movement ever developed and an absolute example of industrial art. Most famously housed in reference 2526, this movement is the result of a momentous technical effort. Suffice to say that the first automatic Patek Philippe was released some twenty years after the first automatic Rolex, but the wait was well rewarded. The architecture and size of this movement allow for particular positioning of the gears and for a relatively large balance wheel, for increased accuracy. The massive 18K rotor is ideal for capturing energy and its lavish finish betrays the care and attention Patek Philippe reserved to this calibre.
Refrence 2552 was available in the three gold colors and in platinum, for a total estimated output of around 650 pieces. The stepped bezel and clean dial are precursor to a trend characterized by sharp case designs and clean, minimalist dials, which will flourish in the 1960s and 1970s. The crown is the typical "back-to-back Ps" Patek Philippe reserved for automatic models at the time.