Patek Philippe. An 18k yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon-phases, 1949

Patek Philippe. An 18k yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon-phases, 1949

ref 1526J mvt 964564 case 659431. * cal. 12-120 manual wind movement, 18 jewels * silvered dial, applied gold Arabic and dot numerals, apertures for day and month, subsidiary dial for constant seconds combined with moon-phases * concave bezel, snap back * case, dial and movement signed * modern 18k yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle * Extract from the Archives confirming sale on 7 June 1951. diameter 34 mm - Est. 70,000—90,000 USD - Sold 92,500 USD

NOTE: Reference 1526 was manufactured from 1941 until 1952 and, together with reference 1518, was the first perpetual calendar wristwatch produced in series by any company.

According to research, just over 200 pieces were made over the dozen years of production.

For a discussion of Ref. 1526, see Reardon, J., Patek Philippe in America, p. 114. Also see Huber, M., & Banbery, A. Patek Philippe Wristwatches, Second Edition, pp. 282-283.

Sotheby's Important Watches, Clocks and Automata. 20 Oct 09. New York www.sothebys.com