Vintage
NT931 shares his personal journey to acquiring the Patek Philippe Ref. 2481 'King-Size,' a vintage Calatrava known for its larger 37mm case. His review highlights the watch's unique characteristics and why it became his chosen commemorative piece.
As I reached a significant milestone in my life (Hint: Iām not turning 30 anytime soon), I began to think about buying a watch to commemorate the occasion. And given my biases towards handwound no-date watches, it had to be along those lines.
Modern? Perhaps, but I had acquired the Gronefeld last year. So it had to be vintage. But which one? I started looking at vintage Patek steel watches but realized many were beyond my budget, especially the lovely 3417s. By chance, I started looking at vintage Calatravas, searching in particular for the larger sizes of 36mm and up.
It turned out there werenāt all that many, and of all of them, very few were larger than 36mm. Then one day, I chanced about the Ref 2481, and learned how it had been termed the āKing-Sizeā on account of its 37mm case. I fell in love with its lugs and case, and started hunting for one. I managed to find one from a dealer I had purchased from before, so a few short emails later, a UPS box arrived, and it was mine!
The watch is in some ways a very typical Calatrava in terms of the hands, and hour markers, and the slightly raised āPatek Philippeā print on the dial. Which is not a bad thing! The hands are easily read, while maintaining a studied elegance, and the cream dial goes well with the YG case.
The case is the unusual part though. First, the bezel is actually quite wide - it flares out as you start from the caseback, and widens the case from 35.6mm (at the back) to 36.9mm (at the bezel). This visually enlarges the watch. If you look at the bezel from the top, it has a flat rim, then as it approaches the crystal, it actually slopes down towards the crystal, lending a āconcaveā appearance to the watch when viewed from the top. (I hope you can see all this from the side view)
The lugs are stepped, and lend that ineffable vintage elegance to the watch. Quite coincidentally, the recently released Patek 5212A has similarly designed lugs. For me, the lugs are the best part of the 2481.
On the wrist, it wears true to size for a 37mm watch, and is comfortable. It can be dressed up with a black strap, or dressed down with a brown strap. Surprisingly, I could not find much info about the 2481, except that the enamel versions tend to sell for quite a high price; apparently the larger dial lends itself to such work. It does mean though that the āregularā 2481s remain a bit under the radar, which suits me fine!
At the end, I feel I fortuitously discovered the right vintage Calatrava for me - jumbo size, manual wind, no-date just floats my boat (along with the other manual-wind jumbo vintage watches in the collection). Iāve since been looking at other vintage Calatravas, and itās a rather deep rabbit holeā¦ ;-)
Thanks for reading!
The Patek Philippe reference 2481, introduced in the 1950s, is notable for its relatively generous case size for its era, earning it the moniker 'King Size.' This reference is recognized for its diverse range of dial executions, which include both standard configurations with Roman numerals or baton indexes, and highly prized examples featuring cloisonnƩ enamel artistry. It represents a period of design exploration for Patek Philippe, offering a distinct aesthetic within their mid-century catalog.
The watch features a case typically crafted from 18k yellow gold, measuring 37mm in diameter, a dimension considered substantial at the time of its release. The case design is characterized by stepped lugs, adding a refined architectural detail. Powering the reference 2481 is the automatic caliber 27SC, a movement known for its central seconds complication. The watch is fitted with a sapphire crystal and offers a water resistance of 30 meters.
For collectors, the reference 2481 is appealing due to its historical context as a larger-cased Patek Philippe from the 1950s and the variety of its dial designs. The cloisonnƩ enamel dials, in particular, are highly sought after for their artistic merit and rarity. The reference demonstrates Patek Philippe's commitment to both mechanical excellence and decorative craftsmanship, making it a significant piece for those interested in mid-century horology and artisanal dial work.
The email style Patek logo is always amazing to look at. This slight 3d effect, just wonderful! The lugs have very nice definition still on your piece!
The review was excellent as well - thank you for sharing your experience with us, and wear your new watch in great health.
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