Beschreibung:

Patek Philippe Ref. 530
Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1942 Reference No: 530 Movement No: 862’880 Case No: 508’295 Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 13’’’, 23 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel buckle by Patek Philippe Dimensions: 36.5mm diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives confirming this watch was manufactured in 1942, and its subsequent sale on August 13th, 1942. Literature: For a comparable example see Patek Philippe Steel Watches, John Goldberger, pages 250-251. Catalogue Essay There are certain references of Patek Philippe wristwatches that can be considered the ultimate in terms of rarity, desirability, and aesthetic beauty. The oversized stainless steel chronograph reference 530, as in the present lot, is without any doubt, one of these. With less than 10 steel examples having ever appeared at auction or in literature, it is no wonder they have achieved an almost mythical reputation in the hearts and minds of watch collectors. The present example is fresh to the auction market, coming directly from the family of the original owner. We understand that it has spent most of its life in a secured bank vault, and has consequently seen very little wear over the last few decades. The case has most likely only seen one polishing since new, resulting in well defined case proportions and most noticeably the lugs appear even wider than on other examples of the same reference. Thankfully, its current owner has entrusted Patek Philippe with the most recent service of the watch, who have preserved the integrity to the best possible extent. It should be considered one of the most important and exciting Patek Philippe chronograph wristwatches of any reference to be offered at auction in recent years. Reference 530 was first launched in 1937, and remains one of the rarest chronograph models manufactured by the firm. In terms of its case size, reference 530 is substantially bigger than its sister reference 130, measuring nearly 4 mm larger. The proportions in terms of its diameter, thickness, and placement of its lugs are symmetrical and perfectly balanced, demonstrating the mastery of design that has earned Patek Philippe its position at the top echelon of watchmaking companies. Interestingly, the stainless steel chronograph reference 530 is known to have been made in case variants that differ most notably in terms of the distance between the lugs. The first generation, predominantly made in the late 1930s and always seen with the sector dial design, features a 19mm strap, whereas the second version with the cases made by Georges Croisier boasted a substantial bracelet width of 21.5mm giving the watch an even more prominent look. Patek Philippe produced yellow and rose gold versions of reference 530 for over two decades, but a very small number were manufactured in stainless steel during the 1940s – a period of wartime that made low-cost steel models more accessible. With so few existent in the world, and considering the present example’s combination of virtues that tick virtually every box for the discerning collector, it most certainly is a watch worthy of crowning the world’s most important collections. Read More