93
Patek Philippe
Ref. 3998
Unique "VILIP STERKK"
A unique, extremely rare, culturally significant, and highly attractive yellow gold wristwatch with Egyptian hieroglyph dial, date and presentation box, most probably made for Philippe Starck
Full-Cataloguing
- Time only
- One of the mythical and elusive Patek Philippe with Hieroglyph Dial Calatrava
- Most likely presented to Philippe Starck by Sheikh Saud Bin Mohammed Al Thani
Phillips is honoured to offer this unique Patek Philippe Calatrava featuring an extraordinary Egyptian hieroglyph dial. Its provenance and intended recipient bring together the worlds of watchmaking, modern art history, popular culture, and royal intrigue, making it one of the most exciting examples of a Calatrava to appear on the market in recent memory.
The present reference 3998J first appeared at public auction in June 2014 as part of the Titanium Collection of unique Patek Philippe timepieces. This remarkable collection of 11 watches also included two other unique reference 3998 examples with hieroglyph dials: a second yellow gold model with case number 4'153'886, and a titanium example that was removed from the auction before the sale date. Prior to their appearance, no other Patek Philippe timepieces with Egyptian hieroglyph markers were known. Interestingly, one more example with a similar dial has been spotted on the wrist of David Hockney, however we do not know the serial number. The known examples are here as follows:
3998/013J Case 4'153'886 Made 2002 (the Helmut Newton – sold Phillips Geneva May 2026)
3998/015J Case 4'153'896 Made 2002 (the present example)
3998/001P Case 4'177.275 Made 2002
3998/001T Case 4'255'205 Made 2003
The choice of hieroglyphs, confirmed by the Extract from the Archives, is one of the most unusual and unique options ever found on any Patek Philippe and was certainly a special order by, as we are led to believe, Sheikh Saud Al Thani whose name is spelt out via hieroglyphics on the dial of the titanium model.
The hieroglyphs on the dial of the present lot spells out “VILIP” at 6 o’clock, and “STERKK” at 12 o’clock.
Philippe Starck is a world-renowned French industrial designer and architect celebrated for his eclectic, iconoclastic style and his philosophy of "democratic design," which aims to make high-quality, thought-provoking objects accessible to everyone. Emerging to international prominence in the 1980s after refurbishing the private apartments at the Élysée Palace for President François Mitterrand, Starck has spent decades seamlessly bridging the gap between luxury and everyday utility. His sprawling portfolio ranges from avant-garde interior architecture and mega-yachts to mass-produced consumer products.
The relationship between the late Qatari prince Sheikh Saud bin Mohammed Al Thani and the renowned French designer Philippe Starck was that of a prolific art patron and a commissioned visionary creator.
As Qatar's Minister of Culture, Arts, and Heritage from 1997 to 2005, Sheikh Saud was widely considered the world's most active and big-spending art collector. He frequently tapped Starck’s eclectic talents to help execute his sweeping cultural ambitions for Doha.
The "Philippe Starck" 3998J is a wonderful representation of Patek Philippe’s iconic Calatrava wristwatch, and is offered at auction with a history that is as unique as its dial. With its most probably unique dial and Extract from the Archives confirming the Egyptian hieroglyph hour markers, the present lot presents an extremely rare opportunity for the most discriminating connoisseur.
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.