.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1955 and its subsequent sale on 29 June 1956.
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 such as the present lot, or maps.
Patek Philippe reserved these masterpieces of enameling mostly for their celebrated world-times watches, notably reference 605 (dress watch), reference 1415 (single-crown wristwatch) and reference 2523 (double-crown wristwatch). In exceptional cases these dials were also mounted on "time-only" wristwatches, notably references 2481 (the present lot) and 2494, but also reference 1466 (square wristwatch) and references 1593 and 2471 (all rectangular wristwatches).
Due to the limited success of these cloisonné enamel wristwatches 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 further research has revealed the even though the dial is confirmed on the extract from the Archives that the present wristwatch was not originally fitted with the current cloisonné enamel dial but was however upgraded during a servicing.
This lot has an endangered species strap (indicated by the CITES symbol next to the lot number). This strap is shown for display purposes only and has been removed and retained by Christie's prior to shipment to the sale site. In some cases the strap may be available for collection free of charge. For more information please refer to the IMPORTANT NOTICES AND EXPLANATION OF CATALOGUING PRACTICE at the back of this catalogue and contact the Watch Department.
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 such as the present lot, or maps.
Patek Philippe reserved these masterpieces of enameling mostly for their celebrated world-times watches, notably reference 605 (dress watch), reference 1415 (single-crown wristwatch) and reference 2523 (double-crown wristwatch). In exceptional cases these dials were also mounted on "time-only" wristwatches, notably references 2481 (the present lot) and 2494, but also reference 1466 (square wristwatch) and references 1593 and 2471 (all rectangular wristwatches).
Due to the limited success of these cloisonné enamel wristwatches 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 further research has revealed the even though the dial is confirmed on the extract from the Archives that the present wristwatch was not originally fitted with the current cloisonné enamel dial but was however upgraded during a servicing.
This lot has an endangered species strap (indicated by the CITES symbol next to the lot number). This strap is shown for display purposes only and has been removed and retained by Christie's prior to shipment to the sale site. In some cases the strap may be available for collection free of charge. For more information please refer to the IMPORTANT NOTICES AND EXPLANATION OF CATALOGUING PRACTICE at the back of this catalogue and contact the Watch Department.