Today we are looking back at a very special Patek Philippe ref. 2499, one that is, in fact, unique. In November 2018, Sotheby’s, after a 12-year hiatus, sold an ‘Asprey-signed’ Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 2499 for a final price of 3,915,000 CHF.
This Patek Philippe is so special for being the only known Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 2499 that is signed by Asprey. Asprey is a famous London-based retailer and jeweler whose origins date back to the 18th century and that is well known around the world. Much like many other retailer-signed Patek Philippes, this model is precious to collectors.
Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 2499 / Credit: World Tempus
The 18k yellow gold watch was made in 1952 and sold in 1956 by Asprey London. It is powered by the Patek Phillipe caliber 13'''130 Q, a manual winding column-wheel chronograph movement that also includes a perpetual calendar function. According to the listing, the original owner, who purchased the Patek Philippe all the way back in the 1950s when it cost about $1,800 USD, sold the watch in the 1990s to someone who consigned it to Sotheby’s in 2006 for almost $2 million USD. Both the 2006 and 2018 sale of the reference 2499 broke the record for the highest sale price for a Patek Philippe ref. 2499, in both cases demonstrating that the market for exclusive vintage Patek Philippes was not only stable but growing.
In general, the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 2499 is already an extremely rare timepiece, with only 349 pieces made over its 35 years of production starting in 1950. The movement, the caliber 13'''130 Q actually dates back to the 1940s as it was used by the reference 2499’s predecessor, the reference 1518 – Patek Philippe’s first perpetual calendar chronograph. As a mark of its high quality, it was signed with the Geneva Seal.
All in all, the Asprey-signed Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 2499 is truly an exceptional timepiece.
By: Andres Ibarguen
Read more:
“Lot 220.” Sotheby’s, https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2018/important-watches-ge1804/lot.220.html.
Pulvirent, Stephen. “Breaking News The Only Known Asprey-Signed Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 Sells For $3.88 Million At Sotheby's, Setting A New World Record.” Hodinkee, November 13th, 2018, https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/asprey-patek-philippe-2499-sothebys-world-record.
"The Asprey" WorldTempus, October 12th, 2018, https://en.worldtempus.com/article/watches/auctions-and-vintage/patek-philippe-the-asprey-26545.html.
Vintage IWC dress watch in 18k yellow gold, for sale on Toronto Vintage Watches.