Patek Philippe

Among the manufacture’s most unusual mid-century creations, reference 2549, nicknamed the 'Devil's Horn', was produced only briefly between 1954 and 1955. Part of a remarkable family of seven related references, known among scholars as the "Turtles", the entire series is believed to comprise no more than 200 pieces.

Within that already rare group, the present reference 2549 has fewer than 36 examples thought to have been made, and only a handful have surfaced publicly.

The model’s extraordinary two-piece 33 mm case was made by the renowned casemaker Antoine Markowski, identified by the maker’s key number 8 stamped inside the caseback. Available exclusively in yellow or pink gold, the design exemplifies Markowski’s reputation for producing some of the most complex and imaginative shaped cases of the period, particularly for time-only watches. The artistry gradually reveals itself, with every facet, chamfer, bevel, and curve flowing seamlessly into the next, creating a striking sense of harmony on the wrist.

The dial, manufactured by Stern Frères, is equally captivating. Its two-tone silvered surface pairs a finely guilloché outer field with a plain inner circle, an elegant and highly unusual configuration seldom encountered within Patek Philippe’s production. Beneath the dial beats the manually wound caliber 10-200.

More than a rare reference, this watch represents a fleeting yet extraordinarily creative chapter in Patek Philippe’s history, when technical excellence and daring design combined to produce some of the most distinctive and sculptural wristwatches ever to emerge from Geneva.