PATEK PHILIPPE MANUAL SKELETON ELLIPSE REF. 3880J

First released in 1980, the ref. 3880J was originally manufactured like this example, with a full lug allowing collectors to use a typical 18mm strap. Later versions transitioned to the t-bar lugs to accommodate cut-out straps.

Only a handful of skeleton watches could be made by Patek Philipe annually and it is believed that only a few hundred were produced during the entire production run from 1980 through the late 1990s. Today, around 30 examples of the ref. 3880 are known to exist and only a small number of this particular example that can accommodate a full strap have come to market. Each example is slightly different and note that every bit of the movement that can be made of gold is made of gold. The Calatrava cross over the mainspring is particularly stunning and subtle variations of this handmade masterpiece can be appreciated under high magnification as much as on the wrist. For the Ellipse collector obsessed with rare handicrafts, look no further.

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