Patek initially produced the Knoll 2497 in 1953, but it surely sat unsold till 1970. Peter S. Knoll then purchased the watch at public sale in 1980 and engraved it « Peter S. Knoll, New York Metropolis, 1980. » Engraving a watch that you just received at public sale practically thirty years after it was produced is a daring transfer I hadn’t thought of, however I respect Mr. Knoll for it. Whereas lately collectors have come round a bit and recognize the story and originality of a superb caseback engraving, that wasn’t at all times the case. Engraving a watch makes an announcement that these days would possibly really feel audacious, however again then was simply what individuals did – « I purchased this watch, and I am gonna preserve this watch. » I am glad the engraving has survived the final 40 years (within the early years of watch gathering, they had been vulnerable to getting polished off); with out it, this 2497 won’t have caught my eye.
