Patek originally produced the Knoll 2497 in 1953, but it sat unsold until 1970. Peter S. Knoll then bought the watch at auction in 1980 and engraved it “Peter S. Knoll, New York City, 1980.” Engraving a watch that you won at auction nearly thirty years after it was produced is a bold move I hadn’t considered, but I respect Mr. Knoll for it. While recently collectors have come around a bit and appreciate the story and originality of a good caseback engraving, that wasn’t always the case. Engraving a watch makes a statement that nowadays might feel audacious, but back then was just what people did – “I bought this watch, and I’m gonna keep this watch.” I’m glad the engraving has survived the last 40 years (in the early years of watch collecting, they were prone to getting polished off); without it, this 2497 might not have caught my eye.