Patek Philippe. A fine and rare 18K gold rectangular wristwatch with sculpted lugs

With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of this watch with applied gold hour markers in 1953 and its subsequent sale on 27 July 1953.

In production from 1948 to the late fifties, reference 2441 is now an icon among vintage Patek Philippe shape watches. Its elaborate lugs, with a marked resemblance to the base of the Eiffel Tower (hence its nickname "Tour Eiffel"), are a true achievement of horological design and reflect the newfound enthusiasm of the post-war era. The dial, compared to the production of just a few years ago, is much more airy, marked only by the numerals, the signature, and the discreet divisions of the subsidiary seconds counter. This is a trend that will make its way into Patek Philippe's design in the coming years, resulting in pieces like the supremely clean perpetual calendar reference 3448.

Patek Philippe commenced production of the reference 2441 in 1948. Manufacture continued until at least 1955 with a total of approximately only 200 pieces made, the majority cased in yellow gold. This model, often referred to as the "Eiffel Tower", remains easily identifiable by its distinct flared design, resembling the base of the tower.

In 1997, Patek Philippe released the limited edition "Pagoda" wristwatch to commemorate the inauguration of their new watchmaking centre in Geneva. The interesting case design of reference 2441 served as the inspiration for this contemporary production.