ELLIPSE 'SQUELETTE' MODEL, REF. 3880, MOVEMENT NO. 1'389'462, CASE NO. 2’876’373, MANUFACTURED IN 1990

Fresh to market, from the family of the original owner, and paired with its original accessories, the present Patek Philippe Ellipse 'Squelette' is an extremely rare, luxe, and handcrafted timepiece of exception from the revered Maison. To date, less than 30 examples are known to the market.

While the earliest 3880 models featured traditional lugs for standard strap fitting, the later examples featured the distinct 'T-bar' friction fit strap/lug system, creating a more streamlined aesthetic, a distinctive feature to many Golden Ellipse models. This later system is seen in the present lot. The powering caliber 177 has been completely skeletonized and hand-engraved, a painstakingly intricate and delicate process which requires the complete attention and patience of Patek Philippe's master artisans and watchmakers.