3087 ♦

PATEK PHILIPPE

Manufacturer/Manufaktur: Patek Philippe, Geneva. Model: "Ellipse d'Or". Year/Jahr: 1972. Reference No./Referenz-Nr.: 3548. Movement No./Werk-Nr.: 1 214 217. Calibre/Kaliber: 23-300, manual-winding/Handaufzug. Case No./Gehäuse-Nr.: 2 717 436 (by Francis Baumgartner, Geneva; key No.2). Material: 18K white gold/Weissgold. Braclet-Strap/Armband: Black crocodile leather Patek Philippe strap/Schwarzes Patek Philippe-Krokodillederarmband. Clasp-Buckle/Verschluss: 18K white gold Patek Philippe buckle/Patek Philippe-Verschluss aus 18 kt. Weissgold. Dimensions/Grösse: 32,1x27,1 mm. Signed/Signiert: Dial, case, movement/Zifferblatt, Gehäuse, Werk. Accessories: Certificate of origin, Extract from the Archives/Zertifikat, Archivauszug.

Vertical elliptical-shaped gentleman's wristwatch. Polished three-piece case, with snap-on case-back, central lugs. Case-back engraved in taille-douce (fine cut) with the mention "10.12.1972". Blue colour dial with radial applied white gold indexes. 23-300 PM calibre, lever escapement, Gyromax balance, self-compensating Breguet hairspring, adjusted to heat, cold isochronism and 5 positions, Geneva seal.

Herrenarmbanduhr mit poliertem, dreiteiligem Gehäuse, Sprungboden und mittigen Bandanstössen. Gehäuse verso graviert "10.12.1972". Blaues Zifferblatt mit Weissgold-Indizes. Werk mit Ankerhemmung, Gyromax-Unruh und Breguet-Spirale; Regulierung in 5 Positionen sowie auf Hitze, Kälte und Isochronismus, Genfer Siegel.

Bibliography: Patrizzi, 2010, vol. 2, p. 235 (No. 979, similar watch in 18K yellow gold).

The Patek Philippe, Ellipse, References 3546 and 3548 were launched in 1967 and remained in production until the mid-1970s. The majority in yellow gold, more rarely in white gold. A few thousand examples have been produced, available with different type of dials (especially the "Blue coloured gold" dial; an 18K gold physically transformed by exclusive Patek Philippe process) and bracelets (Ref. 3546-1, 3546-2, etc.). The "Ellipse" model was inspired by the "Golden section" ("Divina proportione" or "Proportio continua"), which is the perfect equilibrium of shapes and corresponds to the ratio 1/1.6181. The Ref. 3546 is with lugs, while the Ref. 3548 is without visible lugs (but with a central lug on the reverse of the watch). The cases were produced by Fr. Baumgartner in Geneva but the last cases were made by Favre & Perret in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Both references were replaced in 1976 by Ref. 3648 and Ref. 3746 and Ref. 3848 (Cal. 215).

The family of the Golden Ellipse watches is still in production today, making it one of the most long-lasting models ever manufactured by the firm.