The 1960s marked one of the most creative periods in Patek Philippe’s history. Under the artistic direction of renowned Geneva designed Gilbert Albert, the manufacture embraced avant-garde design unlike anything it had previously produced. Inspired by modern sculpture and organic forms found in nature, Albert created a series of extraordinary jewelry watches whose asymmetrical forms and sculptural bracelets challenged traditional notions of watchmaking. Today, these creations rank among the rarest and most collectible vintage Patek Philippe timepieces.
Introduced in 1961, the ref. 3289 remained in production until the late 1960s and was offered in yellow gold, white gold and platinum. Rather than a single design, the reference served as a platform for a remarkable variety of haute joaillerie interpretations featuring integrated bracelets, concealed and asymmetrical dials, elaborate gem-set watches and sculptural cases. Many of these exceptional executions clearly display Gilbert Albert’s artistic influence during his tenure as Director of Creation at Patek Philippe.
Like all reference 3289 models, this watch is powered by the manual caliber 13.5, a 20-jewel movement renowned for its compact dimensions and elegant construction. The cases were manufactured byBaumgartner, one of Geneva’s foremost casemakers, while the dials were supplied by Stern Frères, the celebrated dial maker that would later become part of the Stern family’s ownership of Patek Philippe.
Accompanied by its Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives, this beautifully preserved example is a ref.3289/24 in 18K yellow gold, manufactured in 1968 and sold on August 21st, 1968. The Extract further confirms its original satin-finished dial with applied yellow gold baton hour markers, matching yellow gold bracelet, and gem set case. Produced in exceedingly small numbers, examples of the ref. 3289/24J rarely appear on the public market, making this an exceptional opportunity to acquire one of Patek Philippe’s most artistic and unconventional vintage creations.
