Production of reference 2597 HS (Heures Sautantes) began in 1958 after Louis Cottier's 1953 prototype, and Patek Philippe patented the model in 1959. With specially designed pushers on the left side of the case, the wearer is able to advance and reverse the hour hand in one-hour increments, thereby easily and precisely adjusting the watch fo♍r different time zones. This early first version features two hands on the center arbor. From March 1962, an extra hour hand was also available to enable two time zones to be indicated at the same time.

It is estimated that the firm produced one hundred examples of this model, in yellow and pink gold, and with two and three hands. Watches similar to the present example, in yellow gold and featuring two hands, made up perhaps just over half of the complete production run. The inspiration for Patek Philippe's modern travel time wristwatches (references 5034 and 5134) is clearly drawn from the orꦕiginal reference 2597 and still features an independently adjustable jumping hour hand. Indeed, the watch was of such great importance and prestige to the house at the time of production that its retail list price was not dissimilar to that of a yellow gold cloisonné dial world time referenceܫ 2523.

The reference 2597 is illustrated in𝔍 Huber, M. & Banbery, A., Patek Philippe Watches, First Edition, p. 184, and the Second E😼dition, pp. 238-239.