This Patek 2499 "wenger" was sold @ Christie's on May 14, 2012. Final bid: 2.547.000 chf.
To understand this crazy final hammer stroke (more than 2 million Swiss Francs, ten times the usual price for a Patek 2499), you have to understand the history of this model.
The Patek 2499 is the successor of the Patek Philippe 1518, the first wristwatch which embedded and QP and a chronograph. There are 4 series of 2499, for an overall production of less than 300 watches over a 35 year period. This one is part of the first series, the most mythical, with only 4 pieces known to exist on the market.
The 3 other 2499 first series are cased-up in a "Vichet" rose gold case ; but this one features a "Wenger" 37.5mm case, (1.3mm more than the Vichet's) and thicker lugs.
The main interest of this watch, beyond its obvious rarity, is the fact that it sits at the crossroad of all the generations of QP + Chronographs from Patek.
The diameter, the more actual design of the lugs and case, make this Patek 2499 "Wenger" a perfect combination of the Patek styles from the 50's.
