Patek Philippe Ref. 1511: Vintage Overview

quattro · 2025-05-11T18:50:11Z

Explore the Patek Philippe ref. 1511, a unique 1942 yellow gold timepiece. Discover its eccentric charm, design details, and collector insights on WatchProSite.

Emmanuel, known as quattro on WatchProSite, presents a captivating look at the Patek Philippe ref. 1511, a yellow gold timepiece from 1942. His post delves into the unique aesthetic of this reference, challenging conventional notions of beauty in watchmaking. Emmanuel's detailed images and personal reflections invite readers to reconsider what makes a vintage Patek Philippe truly charming.

One last post for today.

Browsing a book I have on Patek Philippe watches, I found this ref. 1511 in yellow gold from 1942.

Of course, one could argue that it is merely a curiosity, a purely exotic piece (reminiscent of a sled?), or even a kind of freak that escaped from the Museum of Horrors (or from a wild imagination).

But the more I look at this watch, the more charming it is to me. A strange charm, no doubt about it, with this strange shaped crystal and these four "claws" integrated to the lugs, but a true charm nonetheless, and I would even say a beauty.

It was sold by Sotheby's in December 2019 as lot 919 of the "Important Watches" auction and again in June 2025 as lot 320 of the "Fine Watches" auction.

Best, Emmanuel

Case: 26 x 40 mm

credit: sotheby's

Key Points from the Discussion

The unusual design of the Patek Philippe ref. 1511, with its shaped crystal and 'claws' integrated into the lugs, evokes a strong initial reaction, prompting collectors to consider how it would wear on the wrist.
The distinctive and unconventional design of the ref. 1511 raises questions about its construction, specifically how its uniquely shaped crystal would be removed for servicing.
Despite its eccentricities, the Patek Philippe ref. 1511 exhibits a high level of execution, suggesting that its unique design was a deliberate and refined artistic choice rather than mere oddity.
The thread highlights a period in watchmaking when designs were allowed to be more unconventional and 'out of the ordinary,' contrasting with potentially more standardized aesthetics of later eras.

The Discussion

WatchFan1

May 11, 2025

Intriguing design study, nevertheless. I have never seen it before. Thank you for sharing.

KMII

May 11, 2025

Interesting for sure 👍🏻

EinPA

May 11, 2025

That’s true. Anyway that case is sick!

quattro

May 11, 2025

and not very practical. But, even if very strange and eccentric, this design is so well executed… Thanks for looking. Best, Emmanuel

quattro

May 11, 2025

It’s such an eccentric design (and snaggy), but somehow so well executed… Cheers, Emmanuel

patrick_y

May 11, 2025

I'd have to try it on my wrist before saying if I like it or not. But so far, I'm not enamored with it. Then again - I said the Nautilus looked like it had "ears" when I first saw it as a teenager - somehow - it became my first watch as a young adult.

Key Points from the Discussion

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