Even within the vintage market, certain watches have acquired nicknames over the years. Some are more flattering than others, but in the case of the Patek Philippe Ref. 591, the name “Fagiolino” is actually quite fitting.

“Fagiolino” is Italian for “little bean”, referring to the bean-shaped lugs. These lugs, together with the angular case design, give the watch a character that is immediately recognisable. The cases for the Ref. 591 were made by Wenger in Geneva, and the model measures 34 mm in diameter. This example is particularly attractive for its pink-on-pink combination: an 18K pink gold case paired with a pink dial. The dial has a subtle difference in tone between the central area and the outer section -due to different finishing- creating an effect that works exceptionally well with the warm colour of the case. Pink-on-Pink is always highly collectible with vintage Patek Philippe.

Another interesting detail is the dial signature. This example retains the long “Patek, Philippe & Co.” signature, a characteristic of Patek Philippe dials from the period before the company changed to the shorter “Patek Philippe” signature around 1948. Reference 591 was produced in the decade before that and in very small numbers. Produced both yellow and pink gold, with research and auction records pointing to only a small number of surviving examples.

This example dates to 1943, with its subsequent sale recorded in 1944. The accompanying Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives documents attests go this. The rarity of the reference has long been recognised by the market. In October 2004, Antiquorum sold this exact same watch for CHF 149,250. More recently Christies hammered it.

The present watch is also notable for its overall condition. The case retains strong definition, with particularly well-preserved lugs and deep, hallmarks. This is important on a Ref. 591, as the sharp geometry of the lugs and case can lose its character through excessive polishing. The combination of the warm pink gold case, matching pink dial, “Fagiolino” lugs and long Patek Philippe signature makes this a particularly appealing example of one of Patek Philippe’s more unusual pre-war and wartime chronographs.