Lot Essay
Few wristwatches have achieved such iconic status as the asymmetric creations designed by Gilbert Albert for Patek Philippe. Even today, the reference 3424 ‘Rhomboid 3’ has a remarkable modernity thanks to its landmark design and contemporary art aesthetic. So rare is the asymmetric reference 3424, that in the 65 years since production, only 24 examples of the 90 pieces made in yellow gold have returned to the market. The present timepiece is further elevated in being double-signed by Gübelin, as confirmed by the Gübelin Extract.
This strikingly modernist watch first impresses with its completely untouched beautifully preserved matte-satined and silvered dial with perfectly clear signatures of both Patek Philippe and Gübelin. The superb dial made by Stern Frères features the distinctive enamelled radial sector hour markers and enamelled signature that are the defining style attributes of reference 3424. The sharp and crisp case retains full proportions and a wonderful overall honesty and originality.
Deserving of a place in any collection of exceptional wristwatches, the present watch is both very rare and undeniably beautiful, with the added cachet of being retailed by Gübelin.
Reference 3424 - ‘Rhomboid 3’ by Gilbert Albert
Presented for the first time in 1959, ref. 3424 was the most successful of the rhomboid watches designed for Patek Philippe by Gilbert Albert. It was introduced at the 1959 Basel Fair and Geneva Montres & Bijou Exhibition. Ref. 3424 was in production until the mid-1960s and still available to buy from Patek boutiques until 1969.
Made in yellow, pink, and white gold, and in platinum, the cases were made by Markowski, whose maker’s mark of a number 8 within a key is stamped inside the case back.
E. Gübelin
Gübelin was founded in 1854 and has always been a family enterprise. Located in Lucerne, Switzerland, the renowned company has designed and retailed superior quality watches and clocks ever since. Today, Gübelin has branches throughout Europe.
This strikingly modernist watch first impresses with its completely untouched beautifully preserved matte-satined and silvered dial with perfectly clear signatures of both Patek Philippe and Gübelin. The superb dial made by Stern Frères features the distinctive enamelled radial sector hour markers and enamelled signature that are the defining style attributes of reference 3424. The sharp and crisp case retains full proportions and a wonderful overall honesty and originality.
Deserving of a place in any collection of exceptional wristwatches, the present watch is both very rare and undeniably beautiful, with the added cachet of being retailed by Gübelin.
Reference 3424 - ‘Rhomboid 3’ by Gilbert Albert
Presented for the first time in 1959, ref. 3424 was the most successful of the rhomboid watches designed for Patek Philippe by Gilbert Albert. It was introduced at the 1959 Basel Fair and Geneva Montres & Bijou Exhibition. Ref. 3424 was in production until the mid-1960s and still available to buy from Patek boutiques until 1969.
Made in yellow, pink, and white gold, and in platinum, the cases were made by Markowski, whose maker’s mark of a number 8 within a key is stamped inside the case back.
E. Gübelin
Gübelin was founded in 1854 and has always been a family enterprise. Located in Lucerne, Switzerland, the renowned company has designed and retailed superior quality watches and clocks ever since. Today, Gübelin has branches throughout Europe.