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Lot Essay
Exceptionally rare and increasingly coveted by today’s collectors, Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse models fitted with hardstone dials possess a distinctive and enduring allure. The present example is particularly compelling as it is the only known example of the reference 3746⁄900 with an elegant 18k white gold case and striking blue lapis lazuli dial.
The dial itself distinguishes the watch. Lapis lazuli, prized for its rich, celestial blue hue reminiscent of a night sky, is often accented by delicate natural inclusions that make each example unique. Among the oldest materials known to have been used by humankind, its presence here underscores both rarity and artistry. As one of only a very small number of Golden Ellipse watches produced with a lapis lazuli dial—especially in 18k white gold—the present timepiece stands as a refined expression of 1970s design. Hardstone-dialed Patek Philippe watches, produced in extremely limited quantities, have become increasingly sought-after as singular and characterful vintage treasures.
The Reference 3746
Replacing the original Golden Ellipse reference 3548 and 3546 from 1968, the reference 3746 was launched 8 years later in 1976 with slightly new case design and improved caliber 215.
The Golden Ellipse
First introduced in 1968 with the reference 3548, the Golden Ellipse, along with the Calatrava, is one of Patek Philippe's longest-running model lines, representing more than 60 years of heritage and production. The 'Golden Ratio', an ancient Greek concept of aesthetic harmony that specifies the ideal proportion of height, width, and volume, serves as the foundation for its design. The Golden Ellipse, which introduced a shape that was neither round, rectangular, nor oval but rather a representation of mathematical elegance in watchmaking, was regarded as a daring break from tradition when it first appeared. Furthermore, many of the models featured an at-the-time rare and distinct 'blue gold' dial that was ingeniously manufactured by plating vaporized cobalt infused 24k gold onto the solid 18k gold base of the dial.
The dial itself distinguishes the watch. Lapis lazuli, prized for its rich, celestial blue hue reminiscent of a night sky, is often accented by delicate natural inclusions that make each example unique. Among the oldest materials known to have been used by humankind, its presence here underscores both rarity and artistry. As one of only a very small number of Golden Ellipse watches produced with a lapis lazuli dial—especially in 18k white gold—the present timepiece stands as a refined expression of 1970s design. Hardstone-dialed Patek Philippe watches, produced in extremely limited quantities, have become increasingly sought-after as singular and characterful vintage treasures.
The Reference 3746
Replacing the original Golden Ellipse reference 3548 and 3546 from 1968, the reference 3746 was launched 8 years later in 1976 with slightly new case design and improved caliber 215.
The Golden Ellipse
First introduced in 1968 with the reference 3548, the Golden Ellipse, along with the Calatrava, is one of Patek Philippe's longest-running model lines, representing more than 60 years of heritage and production. The 'Golden Ratio', an ancient Greek concept of aesthetic harmony that specifies the ideal proportion of height, width, and volume, serves as the foundation for its design. The Golden Ellipse, which introduced a shape that was neither round, rectangular, nor oval but rather a representation of mathematical elegance in watchmaking, was regarded as a daring break from tradition when it first appeared. Furthermore, many of the models featured an at-the-time rare and distinct 'blue gold' dial that was ingeniously manufactured by plating vaporized cobalt infused 24k gold onto the solid 18k gold base of the dial.