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Lot Essay
Please note the strap is shown for display purposes only and is not for sale. Upon sale, the watch will be supplied to the buyer on a calf leather strap.
The present example presents a rare opportunity for the Patek Philippe connoisseur to acquire one of Gilbert Albert's most celebrated designs. Fresh to market and from the family of the original owner, Christie's is honored to unveil this incredible Patek Philippe reference 3422.
Following the launch of references 3412 and 3413 in 1959, reference 3422 was unveiled a year later and not known to many collectors, was incredibly sold up until the late 1980s. However, after around 1969, these watches were only available on special order with approximately 18 total examples being made in yellow gold from which only 5 are known to the market. Early Patek Philippe catalogs described this unusual timepiece as 'Rhomboid 2' and every single watch was individually handmade and numbered as soon as the workshop received a special request.
Gilbert Albert (1930-2019)
Gilbert Albert was born in Geneva in 1930. After studying Jewellery and Designing at Geneva's Ecole des Arts Industriels, he joined Patek Philippe as designer and head of the workshop. During the seven years with the celebrated manufacturer, he created the firm's most daring designs, most notably the asymmetrical models from the famous ‘Ricochet’ series. Gilbert Albert took his inspiration from his passion for modern art, notably works by Brancusi and Mondrian, his daring and unconventional case designs are considered as cutting-edge today as they were 50 years ago.
His outstanding creations gained the prestigious 'Oscar' award at the Diamonds International Awards no less than ten times, three for Patek Philippe, two for Omega and five times under his own name. In 1962, he opened his own workshop in Geneva, specializing in the design and manufacture of unique jewels and objects. Gilbert Albert handles material in a supreme manner, shaping precious metal and mixing rare stones in an unconventional blend made of dreams, delicacy and magic.
Over the years, Albert's work has been exhibited around the world from London to Tokyo, Johannesburg to New York. In 1991, he was the first living artist since 1917 to be invited to show his creations in the Moscow Kremlin. Every year, Gilbert Albert launched new creations such as 'Scarabées et Bijoux', 'Les Bijoux de la Nature', 'Météorites et Bijoux', 'Les Joyaux de la Mer', 'Les Porcelaines de la Nature', 'Les Uniques', 'Les Joyaux Coralliens', the shapes combined with the materials used paying tribute to his genius.
The present example presents a rare opportunity for the Patek Philippe connoisseur to acquire one of Gilbert Albert's most celebrated designs. Fresh to market and from the family of the original owner, Christie's is honored to unveil this incredible Patek Philippe reference 3422.
Following the launch of references 3412 and 3413 in 1959, reference 3422 was unveiled a year later and not known to many collectors, was incredibly sold up until the late 1980s. However, after around 1969, these watches were only available on special order with approximately 18 total examples being made in yellow gold from which only 5 are known to the market. Early Patek Philippe catalogs described this unusual timepiece as 'Rhomboid 2' and every single watch was individually handmade and numbered as soon as the workshop received a special request.
Gilbert Albert (1930-2019)
Gilbert Albert was born in Geneva in 1930. After studying Jewellery and Designing at Geneva's Ecole des Arts Industriels, he joined Patek Philippe as designer and head of the workshop. During the seven years with the celebrated manufacturer, he created the firm's most daring designs, most notably the asymmetrical models from the famous ‘Ricochet’ series. Gilbert Albert took his inspiration from his passion for modern art, notably works by Brancusi and Mondrian, his daring and unconventional case designs are considered as cutting-edge today as they were 50 years ago.
His outstanding creations gained the prestigious 'Oscar' award at the Diamonds International Awards no less than ten times, three for Patek Philippe, two for Omega and five times under his own name. In 1962, he opened his own workshop in Geneva, specializing in the design and manufacture of unique jewels and objects. Gilbert Albert handles material in a supreme manner, shaping precious metal and mixing rare stones in an unconventional blend made of dreams, delicacy and magic.
Over the years, Albert's work has been exhibited around the world from London to Tokyo, Johannesburg to New York. In 1991, he was the first living artist since 1917 to be invited to show his creations in the Moscow Kremlin. Every year, Gilbert Albert launched new creations such as 'Scarabées et Bijoux', 'Les Bijoux de la Nature', 'Météorites et Bijoux', 'Les Joyaux de la Mer', 'Les Porcelaines de la Nature', 'Les Uniques', 'Les Joyaux Coralliens', the shapes combined with the materials used paying tribute to his genius.