Patek Philippe

• cal 13-130 nickel lever movement stamped twice with the seal of Geneva, mono-metallic compensation balance, 23 jewels, micrometer regulator, adjusted to 8 positions • silvered dial, applied gold faceted baton indexes, gold feuille hands, apertures for day and month, subsidiary dials for 30-minute register, date combined with fan-form aperture for moon-phases, constant seconds, outer track calibrated for 60 units • heavy circular 18k gold case, concave bezel, two round chronograph pushers to the convex band, downturned fluted lugs, snap back • case, dial and movement signed • with a heavy 18k gold Tiffany & Co woven bracelet

Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives confirming production in 1970 and sale on March 31st of that year.

Produced from 1950 until 1985, Ref. 2499 is recognized as one of the most important wristwatches made by Patek Philippe. The successor to Ref. 1518 and the predecessor to Ref. 3970, Ref. 2499 holds a distinguished place among the firm's exceptional perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatches. With only 349 pieces made in total, or an average of only nine pieces per year, it is an extremely rare piece and one that was made with the utmost attention paid to each detail.

This model underwent four major evolutions over its 35-year production run. The first was distinguished by its square chronograph pushers and, in most examples, a tachometer scale. The second series introduced round chronograph pushers.

The third series, to which the present example belongs, was produced from 1960 until 1978. It is distinguished by its simple dial design, having dropped the tachometer scale. Examples made after 1978 belong to the fourth series of the reference, and are referred to as Ref. 2499/100.

According to our research, the present example is one of only three yellow gold third series examples of Ref. 2499 that were retailed by Tiffany & Co. to appear at auction. It is interesting to note that inside of the case back is stamped 'HOX,' an indication that this watch was made expressly for the American market, and most likely, specifically intended to be retailed by Tiffany & Co.

The present example is being offered by the original owners, and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time it has been offered at auction.

Ref. 2499 is illustrated, along with explanations of the perpetual calendar and chronograph functions, in Huber, M., and Banbery, A., Patek Philippe Wristwatches, Second Edition, pp. 298-302.