The Geneva Watch Auction FIVE

171. A very rare and highly attractive pink gold perpetual calendar wristwatch
with moonphases, sweep center seconds and bracelet
Manufacturer
Year 1954
Reference No. 2497
Patek Philippe
Movement No. 888’093
Case No. 683’863
Model Name
Material
Calibre
Bracelet/Strap
Clasp/Buckle
Dimensions
Signed
Estimate
CHF 400,000-800,000
$396,000-793,000
€371,000-741,000
“Sydney Rose”
18K pink gold
Manual, cal. 27SC Q, 18 jewels
18K pink gold Patek Philippe woven bracelet,
max length 200mm.
18K pink gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp
stamped 60
37mm. Diameter
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
Accessories
Accompanied by Patek Philippe ftted box, outer box and Extract from
the Archives confrming date of manufacture in 1954 and its subsequent
sale on October 21, 1960.
One striking feature of the present watch is its original, as
confrmed by the Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives,
visually enchanting woven gold bracelet that gives this timepiece
a glamorous aura of vivid modernism and vibrant sophistication.
This timepiece, made in 1954, remained unsold for six years. As
time passed, society’s tastes changed. We believe that Patek
Philippe made modifcations on the present lot to make it more
attractive to clients of the 1960s by adding a gold bracelet, and
replacing the original “feuille” hands with the present dagger
shaped luminous hands.
Scholarship tells us that a combined total of only 179 examples
were made across both references 2497 and 2438/1, with
movement numbers spanning from 888.000 to 888.178. With
movement number 888’093, it’s an early example made in the
frst quarter of production.
The present lot was frst sold in Australia in 1960 and purchased by
the father of the current owner around 1967. He wore it sparingly
and soon afer put it in a safe in the early 1970s, never
to be worn again.
During its lifetime, the present lot has received only one
professional servicing in 1969, evidenced by the service mark in
the caseback. Consequently, it has remained basically untouched
for the past 60 years. Milanese bracelets, as found on the present
lot, are very fragile and can rapidly show signs of wear. The superb
Milanese bracelet on this watch is in almost new condition, proof
that the watch has spent the majority of its life tucked away in a
safe and only worn sporadically with care.
In an interesting turn of events, this timepiece has come back to
its birth grounds. Having travelled halfway across the globe from
the Patek Philippe workshops in Geneva to Australia in 1960, the
“Tasman Rose” has returned to Geneva where it will be auctioned.
To the best of our knowledge, the present lot is the only reference
2497 with luminous hands.
We have rarely seen a reference 2497 in such untouched condition,
which along with its original ftted box, makes for a truly collectible
timepiece of enduring value.