Patek Philippe. A fine and rare 18K pink gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases

With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with rose gold bracelet and raised hour markers in gold in 1951 and its subsequent sale on 3 November 1953.

Reference 1526 is often not credited for its historical importance, being the world's first perpetual calendar wristwatch made in series, and its beautiful design, a masterpiece of purism and elegance. One of the reasons may lay in the fact that this model responds particularly badly to careless polishing and unprofessional restoration, often resulting in the complete loss of its full bodied appearance and sharp lines.

The present example in rose gold however is the perfect proof how astonishingly strong and masculine reference 1526 can be if preserved in close to unused condition. In fact, this rose gold specimen has possibly never been polished and appears, furthermore, in completely original condition. Consequently, the lugs are thicker and sharper than what even experienced collectors may expect and the overall appearance seems larger.

For many years in a distinguished European collection, this reference 1526 comes now for the first time ever to the auction market.

Reference 1526
Manufacture of reference 1526, highly appreciated by collectors and immediately recognisable by its Calatrava-style case, was launched in 1941. According to literature, only 210 examples were made, the majority cased in yellow gold, few examples were made in pink gold. Only one example in steel, now at Patek Philippe's prestigious watch museum in Geneva, is known to have been made.

Reference 1526 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 282 & 283.