Description:

PATEK PHILIPPE
Chronographe à Quantième Perpétuel, Ref. 2499J, movement no. 868593, case no. 696505, made in 1956

A superb, rare and highly collectible, hand wound, 18K yellow gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with silvered dial, applied gold Arabic numerals, gold Feuille hands, tachymeter scale, leather strap and an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle.

Accompanied by an original Patek Philippe black presentation box and an Extract from the Archives, confirming the production of the present watch in 1956 and its sale in March 1960.

Fitted with a Cal. 13’’’, mechanical, manual winding, rhodium-plated, stamped twice with the Seal of Geneva, 23 jewels, blued steel Breguet balance spring, cut-bimetallic balance with timing screws, snap on gold case back, snap on gold bezel with hesalite crystal.

Dial, case and movement signed.
Diam. 37.50 mm. Thickness 13.20 mm.

Widely acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest watch models, Ref. 2499 second series is considered by many important collectors to represent the quintessence of the reference. The present watch would certainly be a trophy for the world’s most discerning collectors, a sleeping beauty since its last appearance on the market, more than 20 years ago.

Ref. 2499 is widely considered to be one of the greatest watch models ever created. It has unquestionably had a great influence on the work of many of the most renowned watchmakers.

Introduced to the market in 1951, the model replaced the legendary reference 1518, the world’s first perpetual calendar wristwatch with chronograph to be produced in series.

Only 349 examples of Ref. 2499 were produced, in four different series. The first series had rectangular chronograph pushers, applied Arabic numerals and tachymeter scale. The second series had round chronograph buttons, applied baton or more rarely Arabic numerals and tachymeter scale, such as the present watch. The third series had round chronograph buttons, applied baton numerals, outer 1/5th and second divisions (no tachymeter) and sapphire crystal glass. The fourth and last series had Dauphine hands, round chronograph buttons, applied baton numerals, no tachymeter and a sapphire crystal glass.

Since its purchase in a salesroom in November 1999, this important second series Ref. 2499, Arabic numerals, has remained in one of the most important private collections in Europe, safely stored away and unused. With its strong proportions, the well-defined fluting to the lugs and the clearly visible hallmarks, charismatic, uniform ivory-colored patinated dial, with nicely raised hard enamel signature and scales, the present watch would be the ultimate trophy for any demanding collector.

Made in 1956, the present watch is from the earlier series of reference 2499 featuring Arabic numerals - a reminiscence of the legendary model 1518 and the first series of the reference 2499.

The watch presented here comes with its beautiful, original, subtly patinated through time, silver opalin dial, called "type A", because it is provided with gold applied Arabic numerals. Indeed, the model was available with two types of dials, type A, with Arabic numerals, until 1961 and type B, with faceted baton indexes, until 1964. There are half as many 2499 2nd series with type A dials as with type B dials, which appeared on the market, about ten only. A rarity.

Of course, when considering an important collector's watch, the dial must be original and without restorations, but the watch must also have prominent hallmarks as it should, the last three digit of the case number “505” engraved on the lug and underneath the bezel.

According to scholars, less than ten other yellow gold examples meeting the specifications as the present watch, are known to have survived, further enhancing the appeal of this rare and highly collectible timepiece.

  • Notes: IMPORTANT NOTICE
    PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS LOT IS A PREMIUM LOT.
    IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BID ON THIS LOT, YOU HAVE TO COMPLETE AND SATISFY WITH OUR PREMIUM LOT PRE-REGISTRATION PROCEDURE NO LATER THAN 48 HOURS PRIOR TO THE START OF THE AUCTION.
    BANK GUARANTEES AND REFERENCES WILL BE REQUIRED, PRIOR ANY ACCEPTATION.
    PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT ALL BIDDERS MUST BID IN PERSON (ABSENTEE), BY PHONE OR BY MAIL. PLEASE CONTACT ICONEEK [email protected] OR +41 22 310 39 07 FOR MORE DETAILS.

    "CONDITIONS AND INFORMATION FOR BUYERS

    THE PURCHASE PRICE PAYABLE BY A BUYER IS THE TOTAL OF THE FINAL BID PRICE PLUS THE BUYER'S PREMIUM (25% OF THE AUCTION PRICE OF EACH LOT), AND ANY APPLICABLE SALES OR USE TAX.
    ONCE A BID IS PLACED BY THE BIDDER ONLINE, IT CANNOT BE WITHDRAWN. LOTS ARE SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR CONDITIONS OF SALE, DESCRIBED TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND CANNOT BE RETURNED. THE ONLINE CONDITION REPORT IS NOT AN SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, WHICH YOU MAY SEEK, REGARDING THE CONDITION OF A LOT.
    PHOTOS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION REPORT. ANY DEFECTS NOT MENTIONED IN THE DESCRIPTIONS BUT VISIBLE IN THE PHOTOS WILL BE CONSIDERED AS DESCRIBED AND WILL NOT GIVE RISE TO ANY CLAIMS. THE ONLINE CONDITION REPORT MAY NOT DESCRIBE ALL DEFECTS IN A LOT, SUCH AS RESTORATIONS, DEGRADATIONS OR ADAPTATIONS. PHOTOS ARE NOT RETOUCHED. THE COLORS MAY DIFFER FROM REALITY. THE DIMENSIONS ARE GIVEN AS AN INDICATION AND MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM THE MEASUREMENTS MENTIONED BY THE MANUFACTURERS, ESPECIALLY FOR CONTEMPORARY TIMEPIECES. FOR WATCHES, WE DO NOT GUARANTEE THE FUNCTIONING OR THE PRECISION OF THE MOVEMENT, NOR THE WATERPROOFNESS OF THE CASE.
    "

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Please contact ICONEEK [email protected]

December 11, 2022 2:00 PM CET
Genève, Switzerland

ICONEEK

You agree to pay a buyer’s premium, as outlined below, and any applicable taxes and shipping.
Buyer's Premium
CHF0 - CHF250,000:
27.00%
CHF250,001 - CHF2,000,000:
22.00%
CHF2,000,001+:
17.00%

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
CHF 0 CHF 999 CHF 50
CHF 1,000 CHF 4,999 CHF 100
CHF 5,000 CHF 9,999 CHF 200
CHF 10,000 CHF 49,999 CHF 500
CHF 50,000 CHF 99,999 CHF 1,000
CHF 100,000 + CHF 2,000