Patek Philippe

• cal. 12-600AT automatic nickel lever movement, stamped with the seal of Geneva, 30 jewels, Gyromax balance, 18k yellow gold engine turned rotor • silvered dial, applied white gold faceted baton and diamond set indexes at the quarters, Dauphine hands, subsidiary seconds, outer dot minute divisions • 18k white gold case, solid screw down case back • movement signed by maker, dial and case signed by maker and retailer • with an 18k white gold brick-form bracelet signed by maker and retailer

Accompanied by a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the year of manufacture in 1956, and sale on April 10th, 1957, with silvered dial and diamond hour markers, as well as white gold bracelet. 

Purchased at the illustrious and fabled Serpico y Laino boutique in Caracas in the late 1950s, the present lot figures among the rarest of vintage watches. The reference 2526 is one of the most important models in Patek Philippe's history, having been introduced in 1953 as the firm's first self-winding watch featuring the 12-600 AT movement.

According to our research, this offering represents the first time a white gold example of Ref. 2526 with the Serpico y Laino retailer's mark. This distinction does not take into account the numerous additional factors of note for the present lot, each of which, alone, would be noteworthy: the fact that white gold examples are the rarest of all Ref. 2526 watches to appear at auction, even more so than platinum examples; the sumptuously flexible Extract-confirmed, triple-signed Gay Frères, Patek Philippe and Serpico Y Laino bracelet.

Any student of vintage Patek Philippe would hope for a 'standard' Ref. 2526 to complete an essential part of their collection. The present lot, with its innumerable points of interest and fascination, would transform a collection into a veritable museum.  

Production of the Ref. 2526 ceased in 1960. 

Sotheby's is pleased to offer the present lot for the first time at auction on behalf of the family of the original owner.