Patek Philippe. An extremely fine, large and rare 18K pink gold wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and ruby-set enamel dial with the portrait of King Saud bin Abdul Aziz

With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with enamel dial with the painted portrait of the King of Saudi Arabia and ruby hour markers in 1955 and its subsequent sale on 3 May 1956.

Saud bin Abdul Aziz was the son of the founder of Saudi Arabia and the country's first King, Abdul Aziz Al Saud (1876-1953), also known as King Ibn Saud. Saud bin Abdul Aziz succeeded his father as King of Saudi Arabia from 1953 to 1964.

Reference 2481 was introduced into the market in 1950 and was one of the largest wristwatches ever made by Patek Philippe. The model was available with the standard silvered dial but was also with a cloisonné enamel version, depicting portraits of famous personalities, landscapes or continents, often made to special order.

Different examples of such dials are illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 205-209 & 211.