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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1956 and its subsequent sale on July 31st, 1957.
Collectors of rare wristwatches are fascinated by complications and their complex mechanisms. However wristwatches fitted with cloisonné enamel dials take a most prominent position in terms of beauty craftsmanship and rarity. Patek Philippe made mostly in the 1940's and 50's an exceedingly small number of "time only" wristwatches where highly detailed and incredibly artistic cloisonné enamel dials were fitted. Only an extremely small number of watches were upgraded with these wonderful dials, depicting popular motifs such as the jungle theme, the lighthouse or maps. The latter are considered the rarest and most prestigious as these were usually reserved to the world-time models, references' 1415 and 2523.
The present watch is probably the only known example of a rose gold ref. 2481 fitted with the sophisticated "Eurasia" map. Only another ref. 2841 however in yellow gold, is known with such a dial and is now permanently exhibited in Patek Philippe's own museum in Geneva.
Examples in such crisp condition, free of any chips or damages are veritable trophies and are "must haves" for the discerning collector.
Due to their limited success at the time of production, some of these dials were only mounted at a later stage. Such is the case with the present watch where the archives of Patek Philippe confirm the original dial was replaced by the dial - Cloisonné enamel "Eurasia" - during a servicing.
Reference 2481 was launched in 1950 and was one of the largest wristwatches ever made by Patek Philippe. Various examples are illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 205, 207-211.
Collectors of rare wristwatches are fascinated by complications and their complex mechanisms. However wristwatches fitted with cloisonné enamel dials take a most prominent position in terms of beauty craftsmanship and rarity. Patek Philippe made mostly in the 1940's and 50's an exceedingly small number of "time only" wristwatches where highly detailed and incredibly artistic cloisonné enamel dials were fitted. Only an extremely small number of watches were upgraded with these wonderful dials, depicting popular motifs such as the jungle theme, the lighthouse or maps. The latter are considered the rarest and most prestigious as these were usually reserved to the world-time models, references' 1415 and 2523.
The present watch is probably the only known example of a rose gold ref. 2481 fitted with the sophisticated "Eurasia" map. Only another ref. 2841 however in yellow gold, is known with such a dial and is now permanently exhibited in Patek Philippe's own museum in Geneva.
Examples in such crisp condition, free of any chips or damages are veritable trophies and are "must haves" for the discerning collector.
Due to their limited success at the time of production, some of these dials were only mounted at a later stage. Such is the case with the present watch where the archives of Patek Philippe confirm the original dial was replaced by the dial - Cloisonné enamel "Eurasia" - during a servicing.
Reference 2481 was launched in 1950 and was one of the largest wristwatches ever made by Patek Philippe. Various examples are illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 205, 207-211.