- 18
Patek Philippe
Description
- AN 18K YELLOW GOLD PERPETUAL CALENDAR CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH 1981 REF 2499/100 MVT 869394 CASE 2779155
- 18K YELLOW GOLD
- diameter 37 mm
Provenance
Reginald H. Fullerton, Jr.
Condition
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."
Catalogue Note
With a Certificate of Origin and an Extract from the Archives confirming the date of manufacture in 1980 and subsequent sale on September 25th of that year. Together with a presentation box and 1981 product literature including setting instructions.
Production of reference 2499/100 began in 1978 and lasted only seven years. Made in 1981, the present lot is one of the first examples issued. Research shows that from this group, approximately one hundred pieces were made in yellow gold. With around 600 Patek Philippe retailers worldwide at the end of the 1970s, and an average of just 14 examples of Ref. 2499/100 being released each year, it would have been extremely difficult to secure such a piece for one's collection. Considering his family's esteemed ranks as patrons of Patek Philippe over the generations, Pete Fullerton was able to secure an example of this rare reference to add to his superlative collection.
After 35 years, production of Ref. 2499 ended in 1985. It was replaced with the 3970, and more recently the 5970, both deeply influenced by the 2499 series. Today, Ref. 2499 is considered to be Patek Philippe's archetypal vintage perpetual calendar chronograph and remains one of the most popular models ever made by the company.