Andy Warhol’s Patek Philippe 2526 sold for $101,600 at Sotheby’s Fine Watches auction in New York. Considered among one of the most important watches in the history of Patek Philippe and with a very important provenance.

An exceptional provenance

This specific watch is not the first time it has appeared publicly, this Andy Warhol’s Patek Philippe 2526 by was in fact part of the historic sale of the artist’s estate in November 1988, right in New York.

His watch collection boasted true collector’s treasures, which sold for paltry sums at the time when compared to the current market. There were so many pieces that two different auctions were held, the second when more than 100 of his own watches were discovered by opening a drawer in an estate. The 2526 is one of these.

The watch was from 1988 until 2023 in the same collection and remains as pristine as it was at the time. It had an estimate of $5,000-6,000, today’s estimate was $40,000-80,000.

Andy Warhol’s Patek Philippe 2526 Sold For $100,000 at Sotheby’s

A 36mm rose gold case holds a part of Warhol’s story. It is said to have been purchased by himself in person on a trip to Venezuela, from Serpico Y Laino Caracas, the historic Patek retailer we told you about in this article.

Sotheby’s sold the 2526 Serpico Y Laino in New York for $101,600. We never talk about investments, but in this case the owner has certainly brought home an interesting figure after 35 years of ownership and so did the buyer. The watch is of such great importance that the figure seems justified to us, but perhaps low compared to the fast-paced market of 2021.

The double signed dial always has its role, but in the case of Andy Warhol’s watch it is more the story as a whole that gives it value. A similar specimen is currently on sale for around $30,000, a difference of around $70,000 for provenance alone.

To top it all off, on the back of the watch, we find the retailer’s hallmark with the initials “S&L” for Serpico Y Laino and the writing 18k for gold.

The first automatic mechanism in history for Patek

The reference 2526 then has a story of its own, not linked to the artist. It is in fact the first automatic mechanism in the history of Patek Philippe, identified with the number 12”’600AT.

To celebrate this step, Patek signed the crown with its initials “PP” for the first time.

The 18kt gold oscillating weight is signed Patek Philippe Geneve with a guilloché finish and once again the brand’s initials, plus the initials of the gold. In an AD of the time it is described as follows: “The famous 18k gold rotor that glides like a swan on a clear lake”.

The Serpico Y Laino Caracas signed dial

The Patek Philippe 2526 is famous for its enamel dials. The Maison chose this typology because unlike regular dials (made of metal), the enamelling does not undergo oxidation, it is made to last forever while maintaining its original charm.

It can be said that the objective has been achieved to a great extent, because looking at a 2526 with a white enamel or black enamel dial, one has the effect of a classic watch, yes, but not from 70 years ago.

Andy Warhol’s watch is part of the first series of 2526 dials as you can see small holes from the back of the dial made to fit the indexes. In later series, however, they were simply glued onto the enamel, probably to avoid puncturing it and to maintain a uniform, less fragile surface.

The other Andy Warhol’s 2526 sold at Christie’s

Also part of Andy Warhol’s watches, we must absolutely mention the Patek Philippe 2526 with Breguet numbers at Christie’s, sold for $68,750, but with a yellow gold case and without double signature on the dial.

What the auction house points out is the greater complexity in making an enamel dial with Breguet numbers, as the holes for inserting the numbers vary for each type. The base must therefore be pierced before glazing and then completed with gold numbers.

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