Model: Patek Philippe “Giraffe” Golden Ellipse 3546
Year: 1967-1970
Features:
The History. The watch world was in retreat. After the advent of Seiko’s quartz movement, mechanical watches no longer had a technical advantage. Quartz watches were more accurate and reliable in just about every conceivable way. Regardless of how it’s spun now, the mechanical wristwatch had been rendered obsolete.
The Marketing. Patek saw an angle, but it wasn’t technical - it was conceptual. Seth Tobias, a Madison Avenue legend, was tasked with throwing the ultimate marketing Hail Mary:
People who merely need to know the time of day will choose a watch – not a Patek Philippe.
The Non-watch.
The Result. A mechanical watch could no longer position itself as a utilitarian tool - it had to be art - and the brazen campaign paid off. The Ellipse sold at levels Patek hadn’t imagined possible. Demand was so high that Patek began making Blue Gold cufflinks, lighters, desk clocks, rings, and even key chains. The Ellipse redefined what a luxury watch could represent.
The Dial. As boundary shifting as the marketing for the Ellipse was, the dial itself was entirely novel too. The iconic Blue Gold face is achieved by vapourising cobalt and 24k gold together, until the mixture can be vacuum plated onto the dial. A process so difficult to achieve that the Swiss government’s Precious Metal Control Office reportedly demanded to know precisely how the dials were made.
The Difference. And yet, the dial belonging to the watch on offer today is different. Patina? If we want to be charitable. Aged? If we want to be fairer. Defective? If we want to be accurate. Portions of the cobalt have degraded, disrupting the uniform blue that defines the Golden Ellipse. The result is neither conventionally attractive - nor ugly - it’s just very unusual.
The Rarity. Unlike common dial defects, like the tropical sunburn you see on old Rolexes, Ellipses being stripped of their cobalt is a rare sight. And what remains is something closely resembling the mottled skin of a giraffe.
The Case. Solid 18k white gold. The rarer of the two gold types seen on the Ellipse.
Specifications:
Condition: In very good condition overall. Just serviced. The case is not without mild wear considering the age, but the split design of the original brushed and polished flanks remains beautifully in tact. Comes with the original strap and buckle, but the strap is hardened and would need to be restored before use. The dial shows signs of aging(!).
Scope: No box or papers.
Movement: Patek Philippe Calibre 23-300 Manual Wind
Dimensions:
- Case Width: 27.0mm
- Lug to Lug: 35.0mm
- Case Thickness: 5.1mm
- Lug Width: 18mm
