90 Patek Philippe Very Rare and Very Glamorous Calatrava in Pink Gold, Reference 2481, With Ruby-Set Enamel Dial Depicting the Portrait of King Saud bin Abdul Aziz and Original Box

Estimate: €50,000 –⁠ 100,000

Model: Calatrava
Material: Pink Gold
Reference N°: 2481
Year: 1956
Case N°: 2600010
Caliber: 27SC
Movement type: Manual
Movement N°: 706357
Bracelet: Leather Strap
Dimensions: 37 mm
Signed: Dial, case and movement
Accessories: box and extract from the archives

With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with the Portrait of the King of Saudi Arabia in 1956 and its subsequent sale on 5 December 1957.

The present watch is part of a small series of watches made as of 1953 from a special order for the household of King Saud bin Abdul Aziz, in commemoration of his accession to the throne the same year, after his father and country’s first King Abdul Aziz al Saud passed away. According to the Patek archives, only approximately 150 examples were made of this special series directly coming from an order of Red Sea Trading, one of the most important Patek Philippe retailer in Saudi Arabia. This order was composed of both pocket watches and wristwatches with a really exceptional dial such as the one equipped on the present lot. For the pocket watches was chosen the reference 600/1 while for the wristwatches the beautiful reference 2481, launched in 1950 and renown among passionates for its particularly prominent fluted lugs and the big diameter of the case for those time with its 37mm. This reference has been equipped with some very glamorous enamel dial depicting continents, landscapes and, such as the present one, portraits of important figures. The example sold here, as previously said, is an homage to an important sovereign of the Middle East, and is wonderful for its condition. The case has been manufactured in pink gold with snap on back, still sharp lugs and the winding crown with the tridimensional Calatrava cross. The dial is simply amazing: realized with the complicated technique which requires 6/7 different cooking times in very high temperature ovens, has been perfectly hand painted with the portrait of King Saud bin Abdul Aziz which rises up from the totally white background. The garment of the sovereign recalls the color of the brilliant cut rubies and baguettes used for the indexes, set in the quadrant with the aid of gold threads. Sold with the extract from the archives, the watch is not only the witness of a piece of history, but also and above all a rare and precious object by Patek Philippe.