PATEK PHILIPPE ELLIPSE WRISTWATCH WITH TWO TONE DIAL, REF. 3748J

The secret is out that Patek Philippe Ellipse watches are one of the greatest purchase opportunities in today’s market. And this particular example is the Mona Lisa of vintage Ellipse watches — the rarest, most beautiful, and most complete example from the early years of the Ellipse family.

The defining feature of this Ellipse is the dial and supporting documentation. Almost all examples of Ellipse watches were made with a single colored dial, blued gold, autumn gold, or gilt colored. However, here we have a fully documented, two tone dial preserved in mint condition. The Certificate of Origin describes the dial as ‘bleu, zones sans index’, the original receipt from 1979 describes the dial as ‘cadran bleu clair, bleu fonce’ and the Extract from the Archives states ‘two-tone blue dial’.

The ref. 3748 was the part of the first generation of Ellipse watches ever made and popularized in the 1970s iconic Patek Philippe ad campaign “The $1700 Trust Fund”. In 1967, the collection started with references 3546 and 3548 which were listed in the catalog until 1976. They were then replaced with references 3746 and 3748, each fitted with the caliber 215.

A patented, chemical reaction ‘colored’ the gold on these dials, and the blue and the brown are two of the most attractive executions of this aesthetic. This remarkable example, possibly unique or part of a small series, is preserved in exceptional condition and ready to wear for the most discerning collector.

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