Described as an ‘endgame’ watch for collectors, this ultra-rare Patek Philippe watch was recently discovered by Phillips in an important European collection and is heading to auction for the very first time.
“The present reference 2523 with cloisonné enamel dial is truly the end game for many collectors. Arguably, it is difficult to find a more abused term in the world of watch collecting, but this is the one instance where the word can be used with its original undiluted meaning: the present watch is — simply put — one of the most sought-after, unobtainable, attractive and fabled timepieces in the world,” say Aurel Bacs, senior consultant Bacs & Russo and Alex Ghotbi, head of watches, Continental Europe and Middle East.
Launched in 1953 in an oversized 36-millimeter case (for the time), only eleven reference 2523 watches are known to have been made by Patek Philippe; five feature North America on the dial, three feature South America, and three feature Europe and Asia.
The timepiece will be auctioned by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo at the Geneva Watch Auction: XIII May 8–9 and has a pre-sale estimate of CHF 3.5m (about $3.7 million USD).
UPDATE: Sold for CHF 7,048,000 (approximately $7.75 million USD).
[ Watchpro ]
