I'll try to lay the foundation for a community driven database for the rare, the rarely seen and the rarely remembered timepieces that do not get the attention that other pieces might get. I'd be more than happy for everyone who sees him/herself fit to share and to add information about what we love - vintage watches. This is not an exhaustive list, yet(!) but I want it to become a central resource for everyone finding their way into vintage watches, from novice to expert.
March 21, 2023
Reference Guide Patek Philippe - Sub-Second Time-Only Watches
Marcus Siems @siemswatches
Collector, Author, Data Analyst
Reference Guide & Database:
Rolex Chronographs 1940s-50s - Pre-Daytona - Daytona
Patek Philippe Sub-Second - Center-Second - Shaped Watches
So this is not your normal (almost) prosaic description of aspects of the vintage watch world and the horological history embedded in the warm embrace of data visualization that you know. My goal here is to establish a community-driven platform to share knowledge and appreciation for these little anachronistic gadgets better described as wristwatches. This is only the first out of many parts sharing and curating this database. It's ultimately meant to celebrate each and every watch that survived the test of time and is still available to cherish.
I'll try to lay the foundation for a community driven database for the rare, the rarely seen and the rarely remembered timepieces that do not get the attention that other pieces might get. I'd be more than happy for everyone who sees him/herself fit to share and to add information about what we love - vintage watches. This is not an exhaustive list, yet(!) but I want it to become a central resource for everyone finding their way into vintage watches, from novice to expert.
Sub-Second Patek Philippe References - Manually Wound
The Comets: a five reference series (1942-45, all Markowski Cases)
Ref. 1540
Period: 1942
Production: 6* YG known
Movement: Manual (cal. 10-110)
Specifics: Fancy Hooded Lugs
Source: Ant Monaco Jul 2019
Ref. 1545
Period: 1942
Production: 12 (1* YG/RG, 1* RG)
Movement: Manual (cal. 10-110)
Specifics: Fancy Hooded Lugs
Source: Ant Monaco Jul 2019, Chr NY Dec. 2015
Ref. 1548
Period: 1942
Production: 3* YG known
Movement: Manual (cal. 10-110)
Specifics: Fancy Hooded Lugs
Source: Ant Monaco Jul 2019
Ref. 1550
Period: 1942
Production: 3* YG
Movement: Manual (cal. 10-110)
Specifics: Fancy Hooded Lugs
Source: Ant Monaco Jul 2019
Ref. 1551
Period: 1942
Production: 1* RG known
Movement: Manual (cal. 10-110)
Specifics: Fancy Hooded Lugs
Source: Ant Monaco Jul 2019
The 1940s - The War and Post-war years (1939-49)
Ref. 540
Period: 1937-43
Production: 6* (2* YG, 4* RG)
Movement: Manual (Cal. 12-120)
Specifics: Hooded lugs
Source: MLG Apr. 2023
Ref. 534
Period: 1939-45
Production: 100* steel
Movement: Manual
Specifics: 30mm
Source: Chr HK July 2020
Ref. 1413
Period: 1944-49
Production: 2* known (1* steel, 1* YG)
Movement: Manual (cal. 10-105)
Specifics: Teardrop Lugs
Source: Collector Square
Ref. 1582
Period: 1944-49
Production: 200 (5* RG)
Movement: Manual (cal. 10-105)
Specifics: Teardrop Lugs
Source: Chr NY MAr 2020, Collectability
Ref. 1584
Period: 1944-52
Production: 11* known
Movement: Manual
Specifics: Hooded Lugs
Source: Chr NY Apr. 2007
Ref. 1596
Period: 1944-51
Production: 10* known
Movement: Manual
Specifics: Overhanging Lugs
Source: Chr NY Apr. 2007
Ref. 2419
Period: 1946-49
Production: 2
Movement: Manual
Specifics: one with minute repeater
Source: Chr HK Nov. 2021
Ref. 1473
Period: 1948
Production: 3* known
Movement: Manual
Specifics: Teardrop Lugs
Source: Collectability
Ref. 2429
Period: 1948
Production: 24* known (12 PT, 11* YG, 4* RG)
Movement: Manual
Specifics: Stepped Lugs
Source: Sot NY June 2019, Collector Square
Ref. 2431
Period: 1948-55
Production: 19* known (10* YG, 9* RG)
Movement: Manual (cal. 12-200)
Specifics: Flame Lugs
Source: Collector Square, Antiquorum Search
Ref. 2451
Period: 1949-59
Production: 36* known (20* YG, 10* steel, 6* RG)
Movement: Manual (cal. 10-200)
Specifics: "Aquatic", 30.5mm
Source: Collector Square
Ref. 2452
Period: 1949-58
Production: 530; 1st 200YG,150RG; 2nd 100YG,80RG
Movement: Manual
Specifics: 2 series: 1949-51, cal. 10 200 & 1950-58,
cal. 12 400; Fluted Lugs
Source: Chr HK May 2014, Phi HK May 2022
Ref. 1578GM
Period: 1949-53
Production: 20-24 for GM
Movement: Manual (cal. 27-400)
Specifics: LE for GM executives ( engraved GM00)
Source: Chr NY Dec. 2018
The 1950s & 60s
Ref. 2459
Period: 1950-53
Production: 21* known (14* YG, 7* RG)
Movement: Manual (cal. 12-120)
Specifics: Teardrop Lugs, Dauphine hands
Source: Collector Square, Chr Geneva May 2013
Ref. 2484
Period: 1950-61
Production: "few hundred" (18* RG)
Movement: Manual (cal. 10-200)
Specifics: Stepped case and lugs (Wenger case)
Source: Collectability
Ref. 2500
Period: 1950-61
Production: 10* first series
Movement: Manual (cal. 10-200)
Specifics: Stepped case and lugs, square hour marker
Source: Chr Gen May 2007
Ref. 2509
Period: 1950-55
Production: 20* steel
Movement: Manual (cal. 12-400, 215 later)
Specifics: 34.5mm, sister 2508
Source: Phillips HK May 2016
Ref. 2511
Period: 1951-54
Production: around 200 (100 YG, 100 RG)
Movement: Manual (cal. 12-400)
Specifics: coin-edge case and lugs
Source: Sot Geneva Nov. 2020
Ref. 2545 - Acuatic
Period: 1951-60
Production: 60* YG
Movement: Manual
Specifics: Classic 96 design, with flat to domed bezel,
screw-down case back
Source: Chr Geneva Nov. 2022
Ref. 2560
Period: 1951
Production: 2* known
Movement: Manual (12-400)
Specifics: hooded lugs
Source: Phi Geneva May 2021
Ref. 2525-1
Period: 1952-62
Production: 300 (2* WG)
Movement: Manual (10-200)
Specifics: stepped case, waterproof
Source: Chr Gen May 2022
Ref. 2532
Period: 1952-56
Production: 300
Movement: Manual (12-400)
Specifics: waterproof
Source: MLG Apr 2023
Ref. 2536
Period: 1954-56
Production: 8* known (6* YG, 2* RG)
Movement: Manual (12-400)
Specifics: Claw Lugs
Source: Christie's NY June 2013, Collector Square
Ref. 2546
Period: 1954-55
Production: 10 RG
Movement: Manual (10-200)
Specifics: Twisted Lugs
Source: Phi Geneva May 2017
Ref. 2569 & 2569/1
Period: 1954-56
Production: 100 (3* known 2569/1)
Movement: Manual (12-400)
Specifics: Dogleg Lugs
Source: Collectability, Chr HK May 2023
Ref. 2570
Period: 1955-58
Production: 100 YG
Movement: Manual (12-400)
Specifics: not Amagnetic
Source: Chr HK May 2021
Ref. 2577
Period: 1956-60
Production: 12* (8* YG, 4* RG)
Movement: Manual (10-200)
Specifics: brushed Spider Lugs, enamel dial
Source: Phi Geneva May 2023, Collector Square
Ref. 2573 - "Pearl of Bahrain"
Period: 1958-59
Production: 3* known (2* YG, 1* RG)
Movement: Manual (10-200)
Specifics: commissioned by Khalifa I of Bahrain
Source: Chr NY Oct 2022
Ref. 3417 Amagnetic
Period: 1958-68
Production: 500 steel
Movement: Manual (27-400)
Specifics: Amagnetic, straight lugs
Source: Collectability
Ref. 3418 Amagnetic
Period: 1958-62
Production: 200 steel
Movement: Manual (12-400 & 27-400)
Specifics: Amagnetic, no lugs
Source: Collectability
Ref. 3429
Period: 1960-69
Production: 1000 (15* WG)
Movement: Automatic (27-460)
Specifics: hinged lugs
Source: Chr Geneva Nov. 2020
The Neo-Vintage References
Ref. 3652
Period: 1985
Production: 1 YG
Movement: Manual (cal. 11'")
Specifics: Minute Repeater
Source: Phi Geneva Nov. 2019
Ref. 3960
Period: 1989
Production: 2200 (2000 YG, 150 RG, 50 PT)
Movement: Manual (cal. 215)
Specifics: Officer case, 150th anniversary
Source: Phi Geneva Nov. 2019
* The asterisk indicates a lower bound for production numbers. It indicate known examples - thus more pieces or pieces in other materials may (likely) exist.
Patek Philippe Movements - Manually Wound Sub-Second
You can find all this information on Uhren-Wiki
10 ligne (22.5mm):
Cal. 10-105 - 1,914 pieces (1939-46) - in ref. 1406, 1410, 1413, 1414
Cal. 10-110 - 2,463 pieces (1940-50) - in ref. 1428, 1469, 1525, 1537, 1539, 1542, 1548, 1551
Cal. 10-200 - 20,197 pieces (1946-65) - in ref. 431, 482, 1419 (also cal. 10-105), 1458 (also cal. 10-105), 1519, 2407, 2408, 2440, 2488, 2496, 2501, 2527, 2528, 2546, 2547, 2548, 2549/1, 2549/2, 3496
Cal. 23-300 - ??? (1956-75) - in ref. 2592, 2594/10, 3405A, 3412, 3413, 3548
12 ligne (27mm):
Cal. 12-120 - 24,188 pieces (1935-53) - in ref. 96, 1435, 1510, 1527, 1528, 1534, 1543, 1565, 1571, 1582, 1583, 1584, 2405, 2428, 2431, 2439, 2459, 2478, 2511
Cal. 12-400 - 10,000 pieces (1950-61) - in ref. 2532, 2536, 2537, 2538/1, 2560, 2569, 2570
Cal. 27-400 - 5,222 pieces (1960-83) - Antimagnetic
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