Patek Philippe - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIX featuring the Guido Mondani Collection Geneva Saturday, May 11, 2024 | Phillips

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  • Condition Report

  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 2012
    Reference No: 3670A-001
    Movement No: 869'316
    Case No: 4'494'103
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 13''130 CH, 25 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Patek Philippe pin buckle
    Dimensions: 37mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Limited Edition attestation, Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin dated June 16, 2012, large leather folder with history of the watch

  • Catalogue Essay

    Reference 3670 is not only one of the rarest, elusive and desirable of all modern Patek Philippe wristwatches but the story behind its creation is filled with mystery and history.

    In 1996, Patek Philippe prepared to move its workshops from the historic address of rue du Rhone to Plan les Ouates. According to the brand an old wooden chest was found on the 5th floor and in it were 16 vintage chronograph caliber 13-130 assembled and adjusted in 1955.

    Caliber 13-130 was a staple in Patek Philippe chronographs, found in the iconic ref 130 and 1463 to name just a few.

    To celebrate this discovery, Patek Philippe disassembled and subsequently reassembled the 16 movements and housed them in stainless steel cushion cases inspired by the chronographs of the 1920s. To discover the unused movements was extremely remarkable. Yet, to case them in a stainless steel cushion case was, at the time, nothing sort of extraordinary. Apart from its split-seconds chronograph reference 5950 or the ultra elusive perpetual calendar split seconds chronograph reference 5004A, Patek Philippe hardly ever used stainless steel in the production of their high-end timepieces in modern times, saving them for charity or one-off events.

    Producing a highly limited stainless steel chronograph wristwatch housing an original vintage movement was a bold and audacious move, sending collectors into an immediate frenzy. The watches were furthermore fitted with grey dials, giving it a modern and sporty appearance.

    Launched in 2011, reference 3670 was an “application” watch. As such, only Patek Philippe’s most prestigious, deserving and loyal clients were granted the honor to own one such wristwatch.

    In fact, the present example is only the 3rd to ever grace an international auction market.

    Momentous in its aesthetic impact and gargantuan in its collectability, the present timepiece - is without a doubt one of the most important pieces from Patek Philippe’s modern history.

  • 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.

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Ref. 3670A-001
An extremely rare and highly important stainless steel limited edition chronograph cushion-shaped wristwatch, 1950s movement and original certificate part of a limited edition of 16 pieces

2012
37mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF500,000 - 1,000,000 
€511,000-1,020,000
$547,000-1,090,000

Place Advance Bid
Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Europe, and Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
AGhotbi@phillips.com

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIX featuring the Guido Mondani Collection

Geneva Auction 11 - 12 May 2024