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Lot Essay
Representing 60 years of heritage and production, the Ellipse, together with the Calatrava, is among Patek Philippe's longest-running model lines, first introduced in 1968.
At Watches & Wonders 2024, Patek Philippe debuted the first version of reference 5738 on a bracelet, transforming its elegant dress-watch identity into a jewel-like creation. The Ellipse has always been distinguished by its clean, symmetrical lines. Its form was based on the 'Golden Ratio', an ancient Greek principle of aesthetic harmony that established the relationship between height, width, and volume, and when it made its debut in 1968, it was regarded as a bold break from tradition. The Golden Ellipse became a symbol of mathematical elegance in watchmaking, a nod resulting in a shape that was neither round, rectangular, nor oval.
The present timepiece features a striking sunburst ebony black dial, complemented with a cabochon-cut onyx on the crown, creating a perfect balance of black detail. Most remarkable, however, is its incredibly detailed pink gold chain-style bracelet, which is a patented design made up of more than 300 individually mounted and hand-polished links, for a total of 363 pieces. The three adjustment positions on its clasp, which is engraved with the Calatrava cross, highlight the expert chainsmith's artisanal craftsmanship that goes into each bracelet.
Powering the watch is Patek Philippe's ultra-thin self-winding caliber 240, allowing the case to measure a mere 5.9 mm. in thickness, making it the slimmest model in the company's collection. Every aspect of this piece honors the sophisticated style of the 1970s, when the Golden Ellipse cemented its status as one of the manufacture's timeless masterpieces.
At Watches & Wonders 2024, Patek Philippe debuted the first version of reference 5738 on a bracelet, transforming its elegant dress-watch identity into a jewel-like creation. The Ellipse has always been distinguished by its clean, symmetrical lines. Its form was based on the 'Golden Ratio', an ancient Greek principle of aesthetic harmony that established the relationship between height, width, and volume, and when it made its debut in 1968, it was regarded as a bold break from tradition. The Golden Ellipse became a symbol of mathematical elegance in watchmaking, a nod resulting in a shape that was neither round, rectangular, nor oval.
The present timepiece features a striking sunburst ebony black dial, complemented with a cabochon-cut onyx on the crown, creating a perfect balance of black detail. Most remarkable, however, is its incredibly detailed pink gold chain-style bracelet, which is a patented design made up of more than 300 individually mounted and hand-polished links, for a total of 363 pieces. The three adjustment positions on its clasp, which is engraved with the Calatrava cross, highlight the expert chainsmith's artisanal craftsmanship that goes into each bracelet.
Powering the watch is Patek Philippe's ultra-thin self-winding caliber 240, allowing the case to measure a mere 5.9 mm. in thickness, making it the slimmest model in the company's collection. Every aspect of this piece honors the sophisticated style of the 1970s, when the Golden Ellipse cemented its status as one of the manufacture's timeless masterpieces.