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Patek Philippe

Ref. 3724/4

A dazzling and extremely rare white gold and diamond-set wristwatch with bracelet and sapphire hour markers

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Born in the turbulent late 1960s, the Golden Ellipse quickly became an icon in a changing world. As the quartz revolution loomed, Patek Philippe—under the leadership of Henri Stern, grandfather of current president Thierry Stern—sought to create a watch that was unmistakably Patek yet modern in spirit, unisex in its appeal, and instantly recognizable as a symbol of true luxury. At a time when mass production made it easy for inexpensive watches to mimic the look of high-end timepieces, the 1968 launch of the Ellipse was perfectly timed. Its bold, elliptical form was simultaneously forward-looking and timeless, setting it apart as a design classic in the purest sense.

By the 1970s, Patek Philippe expanded into jeweled variations of the Ellipse, catering to a growing demand for glamorous and luxurious watches that epitomized the Jet Set era. Manual-winding references such as the 3617 and 3620, introduced in 1976, were especially popular, with their diamond-set dials and mesh bracelets that captured the spirit of the time.

The present reference 3724/4 represents the pinnacle of this aesthetic. With its diamond-set bezel, dial, and fully adorned bracelet, it is a dazzling expression of the Ellipse line and a striking example of Patek Philippe’s ability to merge elegant design with opulent craftsmanship. Truly a statement piece, it reflects both the sophistication of the brand and the exuberant glamour of its era. Furthermore, this manual wind reference features sapphires hour markers and according to our research it is the first to ref. 3724/4, featuring a diamond set bracelet.

Patek Philippe

Swiss | 1839

Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.

Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.

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