Comments:
credit: Giampiero Negretti & Paolo de Vecchi, Patek Philippe Complicated Wrist Watches, 1999 (photo borrowed from the post from 2016 by DCC)
credit: Phillips
On the same page, Martin Huber & Alan Banbery provide two photos of a caliber 12’’’-400, which seems to belong to the watch.
Rear view
Under-dial view
But what puzzles me is that the number of this movement – 724315 – corresponds to an example of the ref. 2523/1 which is on display at the Patek Philippe Museum (Inv. P-212).
credit: personal photos of my copies of the Huber/Banbery book and of the catalog of the Patek Philippe Museum
So, I am unfortunately unable to specify the movement and case numbers of this third example...
“South America” ref. 2523: a major resurfacing
To my knowledge, there are only three Patek Philippe World Time ref. 2523 with a cloisonné enamel dial depicting a map of South America.
The first one has never appeared in public: it is only described on page 159 of the book by Giampiero Negretti & Paolo de Vecchi, Patek Philippe Complicated Wrist Watches, 1999.
A/ MOVEMENT NO. 722'710 & CASE NO. 306'206 - YELLOW GOLD
The city ring features 40 city names in French with “Moscou” on top of “Aden”.
The 24h ring features white “6” and “18”.
credit: Giampiero Negretti & Paolo de Vecchi, Patek Philippe Complicated Wrist Watches, 1999 (photo borrowed from the post from 2016 by DCC)
The second example will be sold by Philipps on May 9-10, 2026 and had only appeared at auction once before, on October 25th, 1988 in New York (Sotheby’s, lot 465).
The resurfacing of this model is therefore a rather major event.
B/ MOVEMENT NO. 722'711 & CASE NO. 306'212 - YELLOW GOLD
The city ring features 39 city names in French without “Moscou” on top of “Aden”.
The 24h ring features black & white “6” and “18”.
credit: Phillips
The third example, like the first one, has never appeared in public: it is only known through the book by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery Patek Philippe Genève Wristwatches (p. 241 of the second edition from 1998).
C/ THIRD EXAMPLE
The city ring features 40 city names in English with “Moscow ” above “Aden”.
The 24h ring features black & white “6” and “18”.
On the same page, Martin Huber & Alan Banbery provide two photos of a caliber 12’’’-400, which seems to belong to the watch.
Rear view
Under-dial view
But what puzzles me is that the number of this movement – 724315 – corresponds to an example of the ref. 2523/1 which is on display at the Patek Philippe Museum (Inv. P-212).
credit: personal photos of my copies of the Huber/Banbery book and of the catalog of the Patek Philippe Museum
So, I am unfortunately unable to specify the movement and case numbers of this third example...
The only certainty is that we know of only three “South America” examples of ref. 2523 and that the only example ever to appear publicly has just resurfaced nearly 40 years after its first appearance in 1988...
And, of course, I took this opportunity to update my thread dedicated to ref. 2523 & 2523/1: Overview of the Patek Philippe World Time ref. 2523
Thanks for reading.
Best, Emmanuel
Stunning piece, the holiest of holy grails. Hopefully the winner of the auction shares it with the public and doesn't hide it for another 40 years.
Unfortunately, given the price he will have to pay,
I'm almost certain the watch will sleep in a safe. For how long, I don't known...
Best, Emmanuel
Best, Emmanuel
Wonderful post Emmanuel ! These Enamel WTs are so exquisite !
Early congratulations to the eventual winner at the auction !😃
He will be a lucky chap!
But my fear is that, given the insane price he will have to pay, this watch will instantly go for a long sleep in a safe...
Let's hope not nonetheless.
Best, Emmanuel
Let's hope not nonetheless.
Best, Emmanuel