Important Collectors Wristwatches, Po...

Geneva, Nov 14, 2009

LOT 352

Ref. 2481, Tropics Cloisonne Dial Patek Philippe, Genève, movement No. 703630, case No. 681907, Ref. 2481. Made in 1954 and sold on October 2nd, 1956. Extremely fine and unique, one of a series of three made, center-seconds, 18K pink gold wristwatch with cloisonné enamel "Tropics" dial and an 18K pink gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives and copy of the original dial drawings and the archival inscription concerning the dial's commission, and a fitted box.

CHF 150,000 - 200,000

USD 150,000 - 200,000 / EUR 100,000 - 135,000

Sold: CHF 234,000

C. By Dubois, two-body, solid, polished and brushed, fluted curved lugs, inclined bezel, concave band. D. By Stern Frères, cloisonne enamel on gold with counter enamel, marked 93*112, by Marguerite Koch, ordered from Stern Frères after designs from around 1950, representing a tropical landscape with applied pink gold dot hour indexes and Roman quarter-hour numerals, outer minutes and seconds divisions on the outer brushed pink gold ring. Pink gold feuille hands. M. Cal. 27-SC, rhodium-plated, faussescôtes decoration, 18 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, micrometer regulator. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness 9.5 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-25-01

Good

Chipped

HANDS Original

Notes

Ref 2481 was launched in 1950, and produced for a dozen years in yellow or pink gold. It is found with different types of dial and also with "DE" (Décor Email) dials, such as portraits or geographical maps. This is one of the largest watches ever made by Patek, quite particular with its "V" shaped case profile; it is one of very few cases made by Le Locle master case maker Bernard Dubois.
Today, five watches with a pink gold case and the same type of landscape are known. All differ slightly, some feature raindrops, others have various fruits in their lower portion, or a mountain, sea or skyscape. The "rainforest" model, inspired by Gauguin and Rousseau, also called "the tropics", is one of the most sought-after cloisonné dials. The rich variety of shapes and multiple color combinations makes it one of the most beautiful decorative dials ever produced. A Ref 2481 with a similar dial is displayed in the Patek Philippe Museum; a similar watch is illustrated in Ehrhardt & DeMesy, Patek Philippe, First Edition, page 326. Similar Ref. 2481 watches with various cloisonné dial designs are illustrated in: Patek Philippe Geneve, Wristwatches, by Martin Huber and Alan Banbery, 1998, pages 205, 209 and 211.