Introduction:
This Patek Philippe 2526J watch is considered to be the ultimate Vintage Patek Calatrava watch. It has an Porcelain enamel dial, screw down back, water resistant case and 12"'-600 caliber movement. It comes with an new Patek Alligator strap, and original Patek Philippe 18 Karat yellow gold buckle, PP crown.
Date & Paperwork:
The watch was made in 1954, confirmed with an extract from the archives confirming its date of manufacture and further sale. Additionally, the watch comes with a one year movement guarantee.
Essay:
The 2526 is a paragon of mid-20th century design aesthetic. The brand’s first self-winding wristwatch, it is a legend in the horological world for both its innovative caliber 12-600AT and classic masculine design with sensual enamel dial. Introduced in 1953, it has a timeless quality that is as contemporary today as it was 66 years ago. The 35.5mm diameter Baumgartner-fabricated case was oversized for the era, but due to its thicker proportions, perfectly suits contemporary tastes when many enthusiasts consider a 40mm diameter watch the standard. The automatic, in-house caliber, produced from 1953 until approximately 1960, is a work of art with the handcrafted 18k gold guilloché bi-directional rotor crested with the PP signature. It is considered by many to be amongst the finest automatic movements ever made, featuring highest grade finishing, and efficient bi-directional winding system allowing for the watch to achieve full power reserve in a relatively short period of time. Over the caliber 12-600’s seven year production period, 7100 movements were made and were featured not only in the reference 2526.
Specifications:
Reference Number: 2526J
Year Manufactured: 1954
Movement: Automatic
Case Diameter: 35.5mm