1990s Patek Philippe Ellipse 18ct Gold Blue Dial 3848/22
Ref: 3848/22
Specification
Lugs : 18mm (Integrated)
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : 18ct Yellow Gold
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as "Watch only" and therefore comes with no original Patek Philippe box or Patek Philippe paperwork. The watch comes paired with its exquisite full-size integrated Patek Philippe 18mm 18ct Yellow Gold “Beads of Rice” bracelet and a signed folding jewellery clasp, and screw links. The watch is from Circa. 1990s and is sold in worn vintage condition; wear and age can be seen throughout the watch, but overall, this is a fantastic and all-original example of this rare reference. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZVcUmdMynsOzVVJaORfraUr5tlhZtiAu?usp=drive_lin
4K YouTube video, skip to 2:13 - https://youtu.be/DIsq7XtOahY
The Watch
Here we have a 1990s Patek Philippe Ellipse 18ct Gold Blue Dial 3848/22 with a curvaceous bevel-edged 27mm Ellipse-shaped case that effortlessly flows over your wrist thanks to the integrated 18ct Yellow Gold “Beads of Rice” bracelet. First introduced in 1968, the “Gold Ellipse” saw Patek play with shape and form in a perfectly balanced symmetry, inspired by the principle of the 'golden section' discovered by ancient Greek mathematicians. A lug-to-lug length of 40mm and a case thickness of just 5.5mm ensure a comfortable fit on your wrist. On the right side, a coin-edged signed crown sits slightly recessed into the case, in keeping with the slim profile. A smooth polished bezel holds a flat sapphire crystal above a stunning sunburst Cobalt blue Sigma dial, so named due to the sigma σ from the Greek alphabet at 6 o'clock, indicating the use of 18ct Gold in the watch's hands and indexes. This incredible dial was made by Singer, a renowned dial maker from La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, founded in 1919 by Jean Singer, who made dials for Rolex, Universal Geneve, Omega, Heuer, Tudor and many others to produce the blue; they developed an intricate process using Cobalt and 24ct gold that is vacuum plated, allowing the elements to evaporate and condense onto an 18ct gold dial base. Applied 18ct Yellow Gold baton indexes mark the hours, elegant 18ct Yellow Gold stick hands sit majestically in the centre, and at 12 o’clock, we have the Patek Philippe motif that completes this beautifully sculpted sophisticated dress watch. On the reverse, a brushed snap-off 18ct Yellow Gold case back, Swiss Hallmarked on the inside, an ultrathin high beat manually wound Patek Philippe Cal. 215, 18 jewels, beating at 28,800 beats per hour, beautifully decorated Côtes de Genève and Hallmarked with the Patek Philippe Seal. The watch comes paired with its flowing full-size Patek Philippe integrated 18mm 18ct Yellow Gold “Beads of Rice” bracelet secured by a signed folding jewellery clasp and adjustable screw links.
Personal Note
There is no denying the beauty and allure of a Patek Philippe Ellipse and this 18ct gold, reference 3848/22, featuring its incredible blue Sigma dial is no exception. This being a model from the 1990s it features screw links making these models from this period far more functional for most owners than the previous generation requiring a skilled jeweller to size. If you have been considering a Patek Philippe Ellipse I would highly recommend booking an appointment to come and see this one in the metal and on your wrist, just be warned, you will likely walk out with it on your wrist and a huge smile on your face!
The Brand
Patek, Czapek & Cie was founded by Antoine Norbert de Patek and François Czapek in 1839. The company name became Patek, Philippe & Cie –Fabricants à Genève in 1851. They created the first Swiss wristwatch, made for Countess Koscowicz of Hungary, In 1868. They produced the first complicated ladies’ wristwatch with a five-minute repeater, No. 174 603, in 1916. In 1923, they sold the first split-second chronograph wristwatch, No. 124 824. In 1932, we saw the launch of the first Calatrava: Ref. 96. The business began with the regular production of perpetual calendar wristwatches in 1941. They won a record number of first prizes for precision in the Geneva Observatory competition in 1944. Later, in 1962, a tourbillon movement achieved the still unbeaten world timekeeping precision record for a mechanical watch at the Geneva Observatory. In 1976, we saw the launch of the first Nautilus sports watches Ref. 3700/1 in steel. To celebrate their anniversary, they launched the Calibre 89 to mark 150 years of Patek Philippe. It has an incredible 33 complications, which is the most ever in a portable timepiece. They moved into a new production facility in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, in 1996. Continuing their mastery of Horology, they launched the most complicated Patek Philippe wristwatch with a double face: the Sky Moon Tourbillon, Ref. 5002, in 2001. The Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva opened in the same year. Renovation of the beautiful rue du Rhône salons in Geneva was completed in 2006. It celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2014.