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Patek Philippe
Ref. 788
Ricochet
A super rare and highly attractive yellow gold asymmetrical open face pendant watch, retailed by Beyer
Full-Cataloguing
- Watch designed by Gilbert Albert
- Only the 4th example known with flat surface finish
- The only one known with Beyer signature
Patek Philippe’s Ricochet collection is one of the most unique and fashion-forward designs produced by the firm during their long and prestigious history. Released in 1961 and manufactured for a relatively short period of approximately five years, the asymmetrical case is the design of Gilbert Albert (1930), the head of Patek Philippe’s design workshop from 1955 until 1962. A student of jewellery design and craftsmanship at the L’Ecole des Arts Industriels in Geneva, he departed the brand and ventured into the jewellery world. Albert is known for the unconventional use of materials like coral, pearls and meteorites. The works have a harmony with nature in their form and color.
The Ricochet watch has a natural fluid design reminiscent of flowing water. The two-piece cases were made by Antoine Gerlach, Geneva key 4, with Stern Frères dials, and the extra-flat caliber 23-300. The reference 788 is only known to have been produced in yellow gold and in five series: 788J, 788/1, 788/2, 788/3 and 788/4, each with a difference in both case design and dial layout.
The present watch is one of only four known with a flat surface finish and the only one with a dial signed Beyer.
Patek Philippe
Swiss | 1839Since 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.