Beschreibung:

Patek Philippe Ref. 1518
Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1948 Reference No: 1518 Movement No: 867'376 Case No: 652'370 Material: 18k pink gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 13'''130 Q, 23 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18k rose gold folding deployant buckle Dimensions: 35mm. Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed, caseback further signed "Presented to H.H. Windsor, Jr. January 11, 1952 50th Anniversary Popular Mechanics Magazine with the Affectionate Appreciation of His Associates and Employees" Accessories: The present watch is accompanied by an Extract from the Archives confirming date of manufacture on 1948 and its subsequent date of sale on May 12, 1949. Provenance: Bonhams Los Angeles Jewelry Sale, December 13, 2004 - Lot 95 Catalogue Essay Reference 1518 was launched in 1941 and marks the beginning of an era for Patek Philippe. Not only was reference 1518 the firm’s first wristwatch ever to feature a chronograph and a perpetual calendar, but also was the world’s first ever made in series. This revolutionary model is a must-have for any serious collector of vintage Patek Philippe watches, and when found in such well preserved condition as the present example, it becomes the ultimate trophy. With only four known in stainless steel, the majority of 1518s were encased in yellow gold, and only a small number cased in pink gold, making the present watch exceedingly rare. Scholarship suggests that during the reference’s 14-year production run, a total of 281 examples were made, of which only 34 are known to the market in pink gold. Examples of reference 1518 cased in pink gold were either fitted with a silvered dial, or in rare instances, with a rose dial. The matte silvered dial features a hard enamel tachymeter scale, an outer 1/5 seconds scale, and applied Arabic hour markers. The dial was never restored, having developed an attractive patina to the surface lacquer, and the signature, sub-dial printing, and all scales are beautifully raised in hard black enamel. This watch features a remarkable crystal with the magnified lens for the day and month apertures, a treat in and of itself. Collectors of vintage watches will be astonished to see an example of this reference in such a well-kept state of preservation. Throughout its life, this reference 1518 has seen hardly any wear and consequently was never exposed to polishing or repeated servicing. The perfect case proportions, and especially the very crisp hallmarks found at 9 o’clock and on the underside of the bottom right lug are proof of this. Patek’s exquisitely finished, manually-wound caliber 13’’’130 Q is housed inside. On the inner caseback, there is only one trace of a servicing, which is a true testament to the remarkable quality of the firm’s craftsmanship. Furthermore, the balance bridge is stamped ‘HOX’, indicating that the watch was destined for the American market. Renowned casemaker, Emile Vichet S.A., was responsible for manufacturing cases for some of Patek Philippe’s most coveted references. It is evident that Vichet was the casemaker for the present watch as indicated by the Poinçon de Maître key 9, also known as a collective responsibility mark, found beneath the reference and case number on the inner caseback. The rarity, exclusivity, and pristine condition of the present watch are further enhanced by its unprecedented provenance. H.H. Windsor Jr. (1898-1965) was the son of the founder of Popular Mechanics magazine and an avid watch collector. Following his father’s death in 1924, at the tender age of 26, H.H. Windsor Jr. became editor and publisher of the magazine. Under his leadership, the circulation of Popular Mechanics magazine increased to 2 million. In 1927 he was married to the Metropolitan Opera singer, Louise Hunter and together they had two sons, each of whom would go on to also work for the family magazine for a time. Windsor sold popular Mechanics in 1958 to the Hearst Corporation, who still retains ownership of the publication to this day. P