Patek Philippe 'Spider Lugs', Reference 1579 | A pink gold...
Dial: silvered
Calibre: cal. 13-130 manual winding, 23 jewels
Movement number: 868'185
Case: 18k pink gold, snap-on case back
Case number: 664'508
Closure: 18k pink gold Patek Philippe buckle
Size: 36 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement
Accessories: Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the date of sale on May 6 1952, service invoice, service hang tag and Beyer Archive Extract
Please note the leather strap derived from endangered species is for display purposes only and is not sold with the watch. The watch will be shipped with a Sotheby’s branded calf leather strap.
Catalogue Note:
The Patek Philippe reference 1579 occupies an important place in the manufacture’s history of vintage chronograph production. Introduced in 1943, it is distinguished by its extraordinary faceted lugs, whose sharply angular, almost sculptural construction earned the model its celebrated “Spider Lugs” nickname among collectors. At a time when most chronographs were characterised by relatively conventional case designs, the reference 1579 introduced a distinctly architectural interpretation, combining classical proportions with an unusually expressive silhouette. Produced in comparatively limited numbers, the reference is particularly coveted in pink gold, a metal whose warmth provides a striking contrast to the geometric precision of its case.
Dating from 1951, the present example is housed in an 18k pink-gold case, its distinctive lugs extending outward from the round caseband in a series of carefully defined facets. The interplay between polished surfaces and angular edges gives the watch a presence quite unlike that of Patek Philippe’s more traditional chronographs of the period. More than a decorative flourish, the lugs form the defining characteristic of the reference, transforming an otherwise restrained two-register chronograph into one of the manufacture’s most recognisable vintage designs.
The reference is powered by the manually wound calibre 13-130, based on a Valjoux ébauche and extensively finished by Patek Philippe, a movement that also served some of the manufacture’s most celebrated chronographs of the period. The reference 1579 was produced in two principal series, with the second, introduced around 1950, distinguished by its revised dial design incorporating applied Arabic numerals and square hour markers. With approximately 470 examples believed to have been produced across all metals, of which an estimated 185 were cased in pink gold, the reference remains a comparatively rare expression of Patek Philippe’s mid-century chronograph production. Combining its generous 36 mm proportions, sculptural case design and considerably less frequently encountered pink-gold construction, the present 1951 example embodies a period when Patek Philippe brought an unusually adventurous approach to the otherwise classical chronograph.
% from the market value
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
Dial: silvered
Calibre: cal. 13-130 manual winding, 23 jewels
Movement number: 868'185
Case: 18k pink gold, snap-on case back
Case number: 664'508
Closure: 18k pink gold Patek Philippe buckle
Size: 36 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement
Accessories: Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the date of sale on May 6 1952, service invoice, service hang tag and Beyer Archive Extract
Please note the leather strap derived from endangered species is for display purposes only and is not sold with the watch. The watch will be shipped with a Sotheby’s branded calf leather strap.
Catalogue Note:
The Patek Philippe reference 1579 occupies an important place in the manufacture’s history of vintage chronograph production. Introduced in 1943, it is distinguished by its extraordinary faceted lugs, whose sharply angular, almost sculptural construction earned the model its celebrated “Spider Lugs” nickname among collectors. At a time when most chronographs were characterised by relatively conventional case designs, the reference 1579 introduced a distinctly architectural interpretation, combining classical proportions with an unusually expressive silhouette. Produced in comparatively limited numbers, the reference is particularly coveted in pink gold, a metal whose warmth provides a striking contrast to the geometric precision of its case.
Dating from 1951, the present example is housed in an 18k pink-gold case, its distinctive lugs extending outward from the round caseband in a series of carefully defined facets. The interplay between polished surfaces and angular edges gives the watch a presence quite unlike that of Patek Philippe’s more traditional chronographs of the period. More than a decorative flourish, the lugs form the defining characteristic of the reference, transforming an otherwise restrained two-register chronograph into one of the manufacture’s most recognisable vintage designs.
The reference is powered by the manually wound calibre 13-130, based on a Valjoux ébauche and extensively finished by Patek Philippe, a movement that also served some of the manufacture’s most celebrated chronographs of the period. The reference 1579 was produced in two principal series, with the second, introduced around 1950, distinguished by its revised dial design incorporating applied Arabic numerals and square hour markers. With approximately 470 examples believed to have been produced across all metals, of which an estimated 185 were cased in pink gold, the reference remains a comparatively rare expression of Patek Philippe’s mid-century chronograph production. Combining its generous 36 mm proportions, sculptural case design and considerably less frequently encountered pink-gold construction, the present 1951 example embodies a period when Patek Philippe brought an unusually adventurous approach to the otherwise classical chronograph.
% from the market value
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
