ref.1578
Yellow, Black "GM"

A very fine and rare 18k yellow gold manual-winding wristwatch ref.1578 with black dial.

This watch especially commissioned by General Motors, General Motors Overseas Operations. It is not uncommon that one's meritorious service would be rewarded and celebrated with the gift of a fine timepiece, but to be given a Patek Philippe must have been a resoundingly joyous occasion! To the best of our knowledge, in the mid 1950's GMOO began commissioning a special timepiece to be given to their top executives upon their retirement. The firm assigned an additional text to the standard reference number, 1578GM.
The reference itself is quite modern for its time, with a larger diameter and highly attractive spider lugs to the case made by Wenger. Black dials, as on the present lot, were especially rare and offered for the series made for General Motors. To the best of our knowledge, just over 100 pieces were manufactured with special inscriptions to GMOO executives.