Patek Philippe - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV Geneva Friday, November 5, 2021 | Phillips

Create your first list.

Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.

  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1972
    Reference No: 3587/2
    Movement No: 00'006'005
    Case No: 2'699'467
    Model Name: Beta 21
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Quartz, B21, 13 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe bracelet, max length 170mm
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 43mm Width
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1972 with yellow gold bracelet, and its subsequent sale on April 27, 1972

  • Catalogue Essay

    The quartz crisis of the late 1960s and early 1970s brought profound change to the Swiss watchmaking industry as brands were forced to compete against low cost/high-accuracy battery-powered watches mass produced by Japanese brands. It is well-known that Swiss brands worked to reinvent their offerings and marketing efforts, with Audemars Piguet introducing the Royal Oak in 1972, and Patek Philippe the Nautilus model in 1976 - both conceptually new watches aimed at a new, younger and more dynamic audience.

    However in the formative years of quartz technology, Patek Philippe along other brands including Rolex, Omega and Piaget, began to research quartz movements when they joined together to form the Centre Electronique Horloger (CEH) in 1962. Seeking to develop alternatives to mechanical movements with greater accuracy, the CEH first released the Beta-1 movement in 1966, with the ground breaking Beta-21 movement following in 1969, which delivered unprecedented accuracy of just five seconds deviation per month. The cooperating brands agreed to produce 6000 Beta-21 movements that would be shared amongst the group.

    The present timepiece, reference 3587/2 is distinguished by its "television"-shaped case and integrated woven bracelet. Preserved in excellent condition, it displays a hallmark to the case band and crisp finishes to the outside caseback.

  • Artist Biography

    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.

    View More Works

66

Ref. 3587/2
A very rare, attractive and oversized yellow gold cushion-shaped quartz wristwatch with center seconds, date and integrated bracelet

1972
43mm Width
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

Estimate
CHF10,000 - 20,000 
€9,300-18,600
$10,800-21,600

Sold for CHF40,320

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East Director
AGhotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV

Geneva Auction 5 & 7 November 2021