ref.1540
Yellow, "Comet"

A very fine and extremely rare 18k yellow gold manual-winding wristwatch ref.1540 with two tone dial.
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of this watch with silver dial and raised yellow gold indexes in 1942 and its subsequent sale on December 23rd., 1942.

This reference is part of a series of five references launched in 1942 and produced for only one year, in yellow or pink gold. They are nicknamed « Comets » by collectors because of the overall case and design reminding a sky chart with planets. They are all fitted with the calibre 10-110, in a two-piece case, with snap-on case back, made by C. Markowski, Geneva (a case maker recorded with Geneva key n°8). Aesthetically speaking, they share the hooded lugs and hidden attachments. The metal dials for the five references were made by Stern Frères, with either two-tone silver of pink finish.
The five « Comets » produced by Patek Philippe are known as follows:

• Ref. 1540, launched March 3, 1942, in 6 yellow gold and 1 pink gold examples.
• Ref. 1545, launched April 4, 1942, in 1 pink gold example.
• Ref. 1548, launched May 7, 1942, in 3 yellow gold examples.
• Ref. 1550, launched May 18, 1942, in 3 yellow gold examples.
• Ref. 1551, launched May 29, 1942, in 1 pink gold example.