Emperor Haile Selassie Patek Philippe Reference 2497

Emperor Haile Selassie

37MM 1954 Reference 2497

Christies Auction house will soon be actioning off one of the most beautiful and exotic Patek Philippe models ever made. It is believed this model is unique in the sense there was never a Reference 2497 made with this black dial with even Arabic numeral five minute markers, as well as with a sweeping second hand. According to Christie's Auction House, the watch is all original, including the leaf hands.

Until now, this watch was unknown, and surfaced from out of nowhere, which is very exciting. In my opinion, this watch is one of the most beautiful Patek Philippe models ever made. It has such a magnificent balance of simplicity, sophistication and symmetry.

Haile Selassie was born Tafari Makonnen Woldemikael on 23 July 1892 and died 27 August 1975. He was Ethiopia's regent from 1916 to 1930, and crowned Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974.

In the photo below, following the historic Yalta Conference, President Franklin Roosevelt meets with Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia on February 13, 1945.

Haile Selassie is seen in the photo below greeting then U.S. President, Dwight Eisenhower. It is possible that Selassie was wearing his Patek Philippe Reference 2497 when this photo was taken.

In the photo below we see Haile Selassie with U.S. President Kennedy in front of the White House, in Washington D.C.

In the photo below we see Haile Selassie with U.S. President Kennedy and his wife Jackie Kennedy. Haile Selassie is giving JFK Jr, a gift, which is a statue carved out of ivory.

The Other Platinum Patek Philippe Reference 2497P

The Other Platinum Patek Philippe Reference 2497P

Phillips de Pury & Luxembourg Auction

This is a pretty profound find, and chances are, you have never seen these photos before of the other platinum Patek Philippe Reference 2497P. In other words, there are only two known examples of this Patek Philippe watch in the world.

I have already published extensive photos of the other Platinum Reference 2497, and this is the first time I am showing the other known example which has diamond markers instead of Breguet markers.

The two known example of this watch represent the only perpetual calendars made by Patek Philippe up until the early 1980s. That is pretty profound if you think about it, that Patek Philippe only made two complicated platinum watches in the 1950s, and did not produce another until the 1980s.

John Goldberger's Ultra Rare Patek Philippe Reference 2497

John Goldberger's Ultra Rare

1954 Patek Philippe: 37mm Reference 2497

John Goldberger is one of the top horological collectors and experts in the world. He lives in Italy and he is a good friend of mine. When John found out I launched my Patek Philippe Blog, he sent me a really nice congratulatory message:

Dear Jake,

My compliments for your new Patek blog. Earlier this week you showed off a very rare platinum Patek Philippe Reference 2497! I sent you some detailed images of this beauty.

Ciao John

Beside being a top horological collector and publisher, John also publishes watch books. I did a podcast recording with him back in 2008 on RolexMagazine.com regarding his amazing boon named 100 Superlative Rolex Watches.

Patek Philippe

Steel Watches

by John Goldberger

John recently published an amazing book on stainless steel Patek Philippe books, which I plan to do a review on as soon as I get a chance. Here is a copy of the cover of his beautiful book:

Platinum Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar 1954 Reference 2497: 37mm

Platinum Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar

1954 Reference 2497: 37mm

This Platinum Patek Philippe was manufactured in 1954 and later sold in 1956. It features black hard-enameled Breguet numerals and the Breguet style markers give this watch a very unusual and exclusive look since it is the only known version of this watch with this elegant marker style.

This Platinum Patek Philippe was sold by Christie's Auction house for $3,067,195 on May 12, 2008. It is one of only two known platinum versions of the 2497 that are documented. According to Christie's it is commonly believed that there are NO Patek Philippe vintage perpetual calendar watches made out of platinum that were made between 1941 and the mid 1980s. This includes the Patek Philippe References 1526, 1591, 2438, 2438/1, 3448, 3449 and 3450.

In other words, Patek Philippe invented the brought to market, the first perpetual calendar wrist-watch in 1941, and from its inception in 1941, up until the mid 1980s, the never made any cases in platinum except for this one and one other. It is possible there may be more out there, but these are the only two that have been documented to date, which makes this watch ultra-rare!!!

Ultra Rare Black Dial Patek Philippe [1955 Reference 2497]

Ultra Rare Black Dial Patek Philippe

[1955 Reference 2497]

This has to be one of the most beautiful and elegant watches ever made. Pure Perfection if you ask me!!! This watch was made in 1955 and sold on June 8th, 1962.

Patek Philippe Reference 2497: 37mm

Patek Philippe

Reference 2497: 37mm

This 18kt Patek Philippe watch was made in 1953. Ironically, this watch sold new in 1953 for $1,400. This watch was sold by Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers.