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Lot Essay
Accompanied by an Extract from the Patek Philippe Archives confirming the date of manufacture as 1961 and its subsequent sale on February 23rd of the same year.
According to our research, the present watch has never before appeared at auction.
Gilbert Albert started to work for Patek Philippe in 1955 at the age of 24. During his career with the company, he designed the famous asymmetrical watches of the "Ricochet" collection (see Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Huber & Banbery, pp. 78, 163, 187 and 188). Mr. Albert took his inspiration from his passion for modern art, notably works by Brancusi and Mondrian. In 1962 he founded his own firm at rue de la Corraterie in Geneva where one of his workshops is still located today.
The reference 3412, exhibited at the Basel Fair in 1959, remains one of Albert's most famed creations for Patek Philippe. As the model was not originally met with great enthusiasm, Patek Philippe never produced this reference in series but rather in a limited production from 1958 until 1962. Approximately a dozen yellow gold pieces were made in total and the present watch repesents one of 8 known to the market at present.
For a similar example see, Huber & Banbery, Patek Philippe Wristwatches, Volume 2, Second Edition, p. 187, pl. 296.
According to our research, the present watch has never before appeared at auction.
Gilbert Albert started to work for Patek Philippe in 1955 at the age of 24. During his career with the company, he designed the famous asymmetrical watches of the "Ricochet" collection (see Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Huber & Banbery, pp. 78, 163, 187 and 188). Mr. Albert took his inspiration from his passion for modern art, notably works by Brancusi and Mondrian. In 1962 he founded his own firm at rue de la Corraterie in Geneva where one of his workshops is still located today.
The reference 3412, exhibited at the Basel Fair in 1959, remains one of Albert's most famed creations for Patek Philippe. As the model was not originally met with great enthusiasm, Patek Philippe never produced this reference in series but rather in a limited production from 1958 until 1962. Approximately a dozen yellow gold pieces were made in total and the present watch repesents one of 8 known to the market at present.
For a similar example see, Huber & Banbery, Patek Philippe Wristwatches, Volume 2, Second Edition, p. 187, pl. 296.