Andy Warhol was famous for being a collector of almost everything that caught his interest, but despite the breadth of art and objects that took his fancy, his taste was never in question thanks to his discerning eye for good quality and stronger design. Yesterday the sapience of his eye was on full display, with the sale of a remarkable 1955 double-signed Patek Philippe reference 2526 Calatrava that was owned by the iconic American artist and once formed a part of the legendary Andy Warhol Collection auction in 1988.
I’ve got a personal love for the ref. 2526, not just for the fact that it was the first Patek Philippe watch to feature an automatic movement, but because the 36mm solid gold case is fantastically proportioned, in the same way, the enamel dial and precisely applied hour markers and hands have such a seductive harmony to their layout. Patek Philippe was forced to wait 22 years to release its first automatic watch after Rolex debuted the technology because of a two-decade patent Rolex had filed, giving Patek plenty of time to perfect the now-legendary calibre 12-600AT that is regarded by some as the finest self-winding movement ever made.
“With good care, and after ‘personal’ adjustment to your own wrist, the maximum variation is only 1 second in 24 hours.”
Period brochure for the Patek Philippe 2526
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The dial is made from twice-fired enamel, a process that experienced an incredibly high failure rate to create a usable dial, and proudly displays the logo of the South American Patek Philippe retailer Serpico Y Laino Caracas. As we’ve discussed before, there’s a premium paid for many retailer signed watches, but the fact that this ref. 2526 was also owned by Warhol makes this specific example all the more special (though not the only 2526 Warhol owned).
This Patek Philippe reference 2526 that was once enjoyed on the wrist of Andy Warhol was sold at Sotheby’s Fine Watches auction in New York this week, with a pre-sale estimate of US$40,000-US$80,000 (AU$60,641-AU$121,282) and eventually hammered above its upper estimate at US$101,600 (AU$154,085). More than a worthy result for an incredible watch owned by one of the most celebrated artists of his generation.
Image credit: Sotheby’s
