A Pair Of Jaw-Dropping Second-Series 2499 Examples
It’s not every day that a single auction is host to four different examples of the absolutely legendary fake Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 2499, but the Nevadian Collector is just that kind of sale. A fourth-series example, a third-series example, and two particularly noteworthy second-series watches will all be up for grabs come Monday. It’s the latter two I want to spotlight here.
The second-series luxury replica Patek Philippe ref. 2499 is, of course, distinguished by round pump-style chronograph pushers (compared to square on the first-series examples), plus the option for either applied baton hour markers or Arabic numerals, and the consistent presence of a tachymeter scale. The most common example of the second-series 2499 is in yellow gold, but as you’ll see below, pink/rose gold examples are rare and highly desirable. (For a full breakdown on the differences between all four series, click out Ben’s 2014 Reference Points deep dive on “the entire lineage of perfect fake Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronographs.”)
First, let’s look at lot 2018, a pink-gold Patek Philippe replica for sale with a Gobbi Milano retailer signature from 1957 that was once the world-record holder for most expensive 2499 at auction, after it sold at Christie’s Geneva in May 2007, for CHF 2,736,000. Of the nine total second-series examples in pink gold that are known to exist, this is the only copy watch that’s double signed with the original retailer’s name. (There are other Gobbi-signed 2499s – just check out this third-series reference that sold at Sotheby’s Geneva in May 2015 – just not second-series examples in pink gold.) Second-series + pink gold is more than enough to make eyes water (just ask Jean-Claude Biver), but the Gobbi Milano signature? It’s enough to make you go gaga.
Sotheby’s has the current estimate on lot 2018 set for between 24,000,000 – 48,000,000 HKD, or approximately $3,059,496 – $6,118,991 USD.
Next, we have lot 2021, a yellow-gold specimen of the second-series 2499, but – naturally – it’s not just any old example. Yes, this is the only known second-series 2499 to feature a luminous dial. It was last sold 22 years ago at Sotheby’s New York in October 2000, where it was consigned from the family of the original owner and sold to the Nevadian Collector, who has owned the watch ever since. Whoever ends up with the high quality fake watches on Monday will be just its third owner, ever.
What’s particularly interesting about luminous Swiss movement fake Patek Philippe 2499s is just how few there are. The reference was in production from 1951 to 1985 – over 30 years, with 349 known watches across all four series – and only five luminous examples are known, in total: one first-series example, one second-series example (the Nevadian model we’re talking about), two third-series replica watches paypal, and a single transitional model. That’s insane when you stop and think about it.
Lot 2021 carries an estimate of 6,400,000 – 12,500,000 HKD, or approximately $815,865 – $1,593,487 USD.
