The ref. 3546J was part of the first generation of Patek Philippe Ellipse watches and was famously popularized in the 1970s through the brand’s iconic advertising campaign, “The $1700 Trust Fund.” Introduced in 1967 alongside the ref. 3548, the lugless version of the model, the ref. 3546 helped establish one of Patek Philippe’s most recognizable and enduring designs.
Both references were initially made by the case maker Baumgartner and were fitted with the impressively accurate, elegant, and ultra-thin caliber 23-300. Produced in 18K yellow or white gold, these early Ellipse references introduced the now-famous elliptical case shape to the Patek Philippe collection and represent the purest expression of the design that started it all.
The dials are equally distinctive. A patented chemical process was used to “color” the gold dial surface, with blue and yellow-gilt executions ranking among the most attractive and recognizable variations. Today, a blue dial Ellipse from this early period is considered a signature look on the wrist of either a man or a woman: a statement of design, taste, and culture.
