A rare handcrafts model commemorating the collection’s 50th anniversary
To celebrate the 50th birthday of the legendary Golden Ellipse, Patek Philippe enlisted rare handcrafts artists to adorn the limited edition of the 100 anniversary sets, each consisting of a platinum watch with a pair of matching cuff links.
The dial is faced with a black enamel layer that reveals the volute patterns hand-engraved in the 18K gold dial plate. Thus, it combines two of the most venerable artisanal skills used to decorate timepieces – the Genevan manufacture has carefully preserved this know-how. Its decoratively interlacing volute pattern matches the bold form of the Golden Ellipse – half rectangle, half circle – emphasizing the width-to-length ratio of the famous golden section. A black onyx cabochon is set into the crown.
The dial conceals the ultra-thin self-winding caliber 240 movement, which is why the silhouette of the case is so svelte. Its elegance is emphasized by a shiny black hand- stitched alligator strap with square scales and a platinum prong buckle that echoes the shape of the case.
The watch is delivered in a box that also contains the white-gold cuff links with the famous Golden Ellipse design. Their black enamel inlays feature the same engraved volute pattern as the watch itself.
A large-format version of the rose-gold model
After the Golden Ellipse was launched in 1968 with a yellow-gold case featuring a mysteriously shimmering blue-gold dial, it was also crafted in cases with other gold alloys and dials with other colors. The Ref. 5738 “Jumbo” model (34.5 x 39.5 mm) in platinum was introduced in 2008 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the watch. On its 50th birthday, Patek Philippe is presenting a new rose-gold version of this timepiece.
The new Ref. 5738R-001 combines the warm glow of the precious metal with an ebony black sunburst dial that highlights the applied hour markers and the slender baton-style hands in rose gold. It is a dress watch that appeals to aesthetes and connoisseurs alike. A black onyx cabochon set in the winding crown accentuates the harmony of this timepiece.
The heart of the watch is a self-winding caliber 240 movement; a particularly slender case with a height of merely 5.9 mm accommodates the ultra-thin caliber. Its finesse is amplified by a shiny black hand-stitched alligator strap with square scales. The rose-gold prong buckle reflects the characteristic case shape defined by the balanced proportions of the famous golden section.
On request, Patek Philippe offers men an elegant pair of matching cuff links with an ebony black sunburst inlay in a rose-gold frame.
The new Ref. 5738R-001 in rose gold complements the platinum model with the blue dial. The somewhat smaller Ref. 3738/100 in yellow, white, and rose gold is being discontinued.
