1990's Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 3748, 18k

Circa 1990’s Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse, Ref 3748 Cal 215, all original, 18k gold. The Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse was introduced in 1968 and remains in the collection today as one of the most iconic watch designs. Based on Euclid’s golden ratio (1:1.1618…), it represents everything that is Patek — a modern, yet eternal canvas upon which all aspects of the artisan’s touch can flourish: the case maker, the chain maker, the goldsmith and dial maker, the jeweler, and of course, the watchmaker. As Thierry Stern said when celebrating the Ellipse’s 50th anniversary in 2018, “It’s one of those watches that shows you how to make a Patek Philippe. No gimmicks, just purity and beauty expressed through simple design.”

“The Golden Section is an aesthetic rule which has been known for many centuries. It defines harmony in proportions and was referred to as divina proportione, proportion continua, Golden Number, Golden Rule, and more recently, the Golden Section. But the Golden Section is older than its names, for it not only inspired man-made designs but is present also in nature, in the shapes of leaves, the spacing of buds along a branch on a tree, and the proportions of the human body. For the builder of Hellenic temples as for the friars who designed the great churches of the Middle Ages, the Golden Section remained a jealously guarded secret which master passed on to pupil in the strictest confidence” (Patek Philippe Advertisement, Circa 1968).