Patek Philippe

18k, damascened nickel lever movement, stamped twice with the seal of Geneva, 18 jewels, mono-metallic compensation balance, adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, precision regulator, silvered dial, applied pink gold arabic and baton numerals, subsidiary seconds, circular case with long flattened stepped tear-drop lugs, case, dial and movement signed, accompanied by an Extract from the Archives.

The accompanying Extract from the Patek Philippe Archives confirms that this wristwatch was made in 1942, left the factory with a pink dial and was sold on 17th October the same year.

Reference 1537 is an exceptionally rare wristwatch. Production of the model began in 1942 and probably only lasted a year. Interestingly, research at the dial manufacturer revealed that only one type of dial was made for the reference, re-enforcing the suggestion that few pieces were made. Patek Philippe's case maker for this wristwatch was Eggly who made a few other round reference wristwatches for Patek Philippe during the same period.

This is not only the first time that the reference has been offered at auction, but it is also the only publicly known example.