Lot 85

Patek Philippe

A very fine Geneva wrist chronograph with spider-lugs, sold on October 18,1951

Sold

The 1930s ushered in a golden age of wrist-chronographs. Patek Philippe set the benchmark for classic chronographs with the legendary reference 130, introduced in 1934. In 1943 the brand continued the tradition with reference 1579, but took a bold design leap: the extraordinary, distinctive "spider lugs" gave the watch a modern, almost avant-garde profile that stood out sharply against the more restrained prewar models.
The postwar era brought a shift in tastes—watches grew larger, bolder, more assertive. With its 36 mm case and striking horns, ref. 1579 was ahead of its time, foreshadowing the elegance and aesthetic of the 1950s.
At the same time, it remained rooted in the tradition of haute horlogerie thanks to the well-tried Caliber 13’’’ chronograph movement. Produced in extremely limited numbers, reference 1579 was available in yellow gold, rose gold, and very rarely platinum. Today, surviving examples are prized icons on the international auction stage.
This model is also in excellent condition. Due to its many bevels, the 1579 is particularly sensitive to polishing, as even the slightest intervention dulls its sharp edges.
The marks on the upper left lug and on the side below the zero-setting device are clearly visible. The dial is also in outstanding condition. It features applied, gold, Arabic and square, faceted indexes as well as an outer tachymeter scale.