Patek Philippe 2499 Sells for $3.5 Million at Auction

At Sotheby’s Treasures of Time auction in Geneva, one watch grabbed all the attention: a rare Patek Philippe 2499, First Series, in a pink gold Wenger case.

 

Source: Hodinkee

The 2499, introduced in the 1950s, was a big deal for its time. Combining a perpetual calendar with a chronograph wasn’t easy to pull off, with only Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet being able to bring it to serial production back then. It quickly became a favorite among collectors and is still considered one of the brand’s best.

 

What makes this one special? First, it’s from the first series (1951–1956), with fewer than 50 made. Most of these were cased by Vichet, but this one was done by Wenger, which gives it a sturdier look with thicker lugs. On top of that, it’s made of pink gold, which was quite rare back when yellow gold was the norm.

 

Source: Hodinkee

Only three of these Wenger-cased 2499s are known to exist, making it a serious collector’s item. It’s even been called “museum-grade” since not even the Patek Philippe Museum has one like it.

 

The watch ended up selling for an unbelievable sum of $3.5 million—31% more than when it last sold in 2012.

 

Source: Forbes