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Lot Essay
The present "Grande Ellipse" by Patek Philippe is an extremely rare example of this legendary reference and is for the first time offered at Christie's.
According to our research, only one other example is known to the market with the same case, bracelet and dial configuration as this watch; although the other example has a personalized inscription written in Arabic.
For his speech given on Labor Day in Libya in 1978, Colonel Kadhafi had commissioned Patek Philippe to manufacture a very small series of watches to commemorate this day. The watches were made in white gold with an integrated white gold bracelet. The dial colour was a reference to his "Green Book" and is made of a pale green hardstone. The dial was further enhanced with part of Colonel Kadhafi's personalized quote: "We celebrate today the first of May, the International Workers Day. The real workers day is the one on which all workers of the world are liberated from slavery and when they become partners instead of wage workers."
Reference 3589 "Grande Ellipse" was launched in 1970 and discontinued in 1979. It houses the calibre 28'255, the same automatic movement as the famous Jumbo Nautilus reference 3700.
The present watch is in overall excellent condition.
According to our research, only one other example is known to the market with the same case, bracelet and dial configuration as this watch; although the other example has a personalized inscription written in Arabic.
For his speech given on Labor Day in Libya in 1978, Colonel Kadhafi had commissioned Patek Philippe to manufacture a very small series of watches to commemorate this day. The watches were made in white gold with an integrated white gold bracelet. The dial colour was a reference to his "Green Book" and is made of a pale green hardstone. The dial was further enhanced with part of Colonel Kadhafi's personalized quote: "We celebrate today the first of May, the International Workers Day. The real workers day is the one on which all workers of the world are liberated from slavery and when they become partners instead of wage workers."
Reference 3589 "Grande Ellipse" was launched in 1970 and discontinued in 1979. It houses the calibre 28'255, the same automatic movement as the famous Jumbo Nautilus reference 3700.
The present watch is in overall excellent condition.