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Lot Essay
Please note that Christie’s has applied for an ‘Extract from the Archives’ from Patek Philippe Archives but the Extract has not yet been issued and may not be available by the date of the auction.
The present timepiece is a very rare 'Beta 21', Patek Philippe's first quartz wristwatch. This watch was intended for the American market, as evidence by the '18k' engraving on the caseback and the 'HOX' import mark on the movement. The 'HOX' code was applied to both Patek Philippe and Universal Genève timepieces imported by the Henri Stern Watch Agency, the official name for Patek Philippe USA.
The emergence of inexpensive, battery-operated quartz watches from Japan, which provided significantly higher accuracy than conventional mechanical timepieces, presented Swiss watchmakers with a significant obstacle during the Quartz Crisis of the 1970s. In order to compete, a consortium of major Swiss companies, including Patek Philippe, worked together to create a revolutionary quartz movement at the Centre Électronique Horloger (CEH) in Neuchâtel. The result was the Beta-21, one of the earliest and most accurate battery-operated movements ever made, introduced at the Basel Fair in April 1970.
In a daring display of modernity and innovation, Patek Philippe debuted its first quartz wristwatch, reference 3587. The 3587 embodied the forward-thinking design philosophy of its time with its oversized cushion-shaped case and unique integrated bracelet. The reference 3597, the model's successor, was introduced in 1973 with the upgraded Beta-22 movement and continued to be manufactured until about 1982. These models, which at the time were Patek Philippe's largest wristwatches, came in a range of case metals, dial finishes, and bracelet configurations. They now stand as extremely rare and collectible icons, signifying a turning point in the history of watchmaking when technological innovation and traditional craftsmanship came together.
The present timepiece is a very rare 'Beta 21', Patek Philippe's first quartz wristwatch. This watch was intended for the American market, as evidence by the '18k' engraving on the caseback and the 'HOX' import mark on the movement. The 'HOX' code was applied to both Patek Philippe and Universal Genève timepieces imported by the Henri Stern Watch Agency, the official name for Patek Philippe USA.
The emergence of inexpensive, battery-operated quartz watches from Japan, which provided significantly higher accuracy than conventional mechanical timepieces, presented Swiss watchmakers with a significant obstacle during the Quartz Crisis of the 1970s. In order to compete, a consortium of major Swiss companies, including Patek Philippe, worked together to create a revolutionary quartz movement at the Centre Électronique Horloger (CEH) in Neuchâtel. The result was the Beta-21, one of the earliest and most accurate battery-operated movements ever made, introduced at the Basel Fair in April 1970.
In a daring display of modernity and innovation, Patek Philippe debuted its first quartz wristwatch, reference 3587. The 3587 embodied the forward-thinking design philosophy of its time with its oversized cushion-shaped case and unique integrated bracelet. The reference 3597, the model's successor, was introduced in 1973 with the upgraded Beta-22 movement and continued to be manufactured until about 1982. These models, which at the time were Patek Philippe's largest wristwatches, came in a range of case metals, dial finishes, and bracelet configurations. They now stand as extremely rare and collectible icons, signifying a turning point in the history of watchmaking when technological innovation and traditional craftsmanship came together.