Patek Philippe Ref. 2526 in 18K Gold with Bracelet

CIRCA: 1955
REF.: 2526J
CASE NUMBER: 679874
CASE MATERIAL: 18K yellow gold
CASE DIMENSIONS: 36 mm diameter
DIAL: White enamel dial with riveted gold stick markers
BRACELET MATERIAL: Patek Philippe 18K yellow gold five-row brick link bracelet with fold-over clasp
BRACELET SIZE: 7-1/4 to 7-5/8 inches
MOVEMENT: Automatic, No. 760288
FUNCTIONS: Time only
CALIBER: 12-600 AT

Introduced into the market in 1952, reference 2526 was Patek Philippe's first automatic watch ever made. The model features the legendary calibre 12-600 AT, which was granted Swiss patent No. 289758 in 1953 for "a self-winding mechanism for a wristwatch movement using the energy supplied by a rotary mass causing an eccentric part to transmit a swinging movement to an organ of the mechanism".

The majority of reference 2526's were cased in yellow gold. This watch is part of the first series of the reference with domed case back, enamel dial and riveted numerals. The dial presents flared holes under each numeral in order to allow for the setting of the numeral. (See photo of the dial on next page) Moreover, fitted with a gold bracelet, the present example would be the pride of any discerning collector.