Patek Philippe - Hong Kong Watch Auction: THREE Hong Kong Monday, November 28, 2016 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1956
    Reference No: 2481
    Movement No: 706'264
    Case No: 691'389
    Material: 18k pink gold and enamel
    Calibre: Mechanical, 27 SC, 18 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Brown Patek Philippe crocodile leather strap
    Clasp/Buckle: 18k pink gold Patek Philippe buckle
    Dimensions: 37 mm. diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the production of the present watch in 1956 and its subsequent sale on 31 July 1957, the Extract further states that the original dial was upgraded to the current cloisonné enamel dial during a servicing in Patek Philippe.
    Literature: For the only other known example of a reference 2481 fitted with a Eurasia map, please see Patek Philippe Museum Patek Philippe Watches, Volume II, page 362.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The cloisonné enamel technique is a very important aspect of horology. Fine copper or gold wires are placed on a metal based to define the subject of the enamel. The sections created with the wire are then filled with enamel. The enamel is then coloured by powered metal oxidise and fired, which then solidifies the enamel paste, resulting in a beautiful work of art.

    During 1940s to the 1960s, exceptional cloisonné enamel dials were created for all the prestige manufactures during this period. Phillips in association with Bacs and Russo is delighted to present this exceptional and unique example of this ancient craft. An exceptionally skilled artisan created this notable Eurasia map for Patek Philippe and it is the only known example to be fitted in a pink gold reference 2481 case. The only other example known of a Eurasia cloisonné map is on permanent exhibition in the prestigious Patek Philippe museum.

    Presented in outstanding original condition, this masterpiece is a result in a combined skills of watch manufacture and artist.Consigned by an important private collector, the present watch is the only known example of a pink gold reference 2481 fitted with a cloisonné Eurasia map. Only an extremely small number of watches were fitted with these cloisonné enamel dials that depicted popular themes, such as the jungle, the lighthouse or maps. Due to the limited success during the 1940s to 1960s of these cloisonné enamel dials, only small numbers were made and even fewer sold. As a result of this limited success, there were some dials that remained in stock and only mounted at a later stage, as is the case with the present watch. The quality of the present example is hard to translate into words, however, it is truly breathtaking.

    Reference 2481 was first introduced in the 1950s and has a large case diameter of 37 mm. Patek Philippe did case many of their cloisonné enamel dial within this case due to its large case size.

    掐絲琺瑯,是一種製作技術非常繁複的重要製錶工藝。其生產方法是利用銅或金屬絲線勾劃出所需圖案,並固定在金屬胎底上,將不同顏色琺瑯釉彩填在金線花紋圖案框架內,再放入窯爐經多次高溫燒製,直至表面的琺瑯釉達到合適厚度,再經過打磨、鍍金等多重工序,最後蓋上一層透明琺瑯作保護燒製而成。掐絲琺瑯的色澤豐富、瑰麗光亮、歷久常新,每一件作品皆是精美的藝術品。

    本季富藝斯聯同Bacs and Russo為各界藏家精心蒐羅掐絲琺瑯精品:百達翡麗玫瑰金掐絲琺瑯腕錶,配置歐亞大陸地圖面盤,型號2481。從1940年代至1960年代,只有最頂級的製錶商才有足夠能力,製作品質超群的掐絲琺瑯錶盤;據已知的資料記載,除了百達翡麗博物館永久收藏的一枚掐絲琺瑯面盤腕錶配置歐亞大陸地圖之外,本拍品是唯一搭配玫瑰金錶殼的歐亞大陸面盤孤本。

    拍品狀況良好,備有頂級古董錶的各項優秀條件,勢必成為拍場上的矚目焦點。

  • Artist Biography

    Patek Philippe

    Swiss • 1839

    Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.

    Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.

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Σ1140

Ref. 2481
An extremely rare and historically important pink gold wristwatch with cloisonné enamel dial depicitng the map of Eurasia

1956
37 mm. diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
HK$5,000,000 - 10,000,000 
€587,000-1,170,000
$625,000-1,250,000

Sold for HK$6,320,000

Hong Kong Watch Auction: THREE

Hong Kong Auction 29 November 2016