PATEK PHILIPPE, WHITE GOLD KEYLESS LEVER WATCH, DESIGNED BY GILBERT...
CIRCA: 1971
CASE MATERIAL: White gold
CASE DIAMETER: 40 x 41 mm.
DIAL: Silvered
MOVEMENT: Manual
FUNCTIONS: Time only
BOX: No
PAPERS: No
WITH: Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1971 and its subsequent sale on 24 October 1972
REMARK: Designed by Gilbert Albert
Lot Essay
Designed by the illustrious Gilbert Albert, Patek Philippe’s celebrated ‘Ricochet’ collection is distinguished by its highly unconventional forms and textured surfaces. Reference 798, produced from 1964 until the early 1970s, is a particularly elegant expression of Albert’s avant-garde approach, taking the form of an ultra-thin cushion-shaped pocket watch.
The present timepiece is distinguished by the remarkable bark-like texture extending across both the case and dial, creating a richly tactile surface and transforming an otherwise restrained design into a highly sculptural object. Beneath this unusual exterior lies the manually wound calibre 23-300, whose slender construction complements the exceptionally thin profile of the watch.
The two-piece case was manufactured by Wenger, identified by Geneva Master case maker key 1, while the dial was supplied by the celebrated Stern Frères. Reference 798 was produced in both yellow and white gold, with fewer than 100 examples believed to have been made in each metal. Today, fewer than ten examples of each version are known to have reappeared on the market, underlining the exceptional rarity of this fascinating Gilbert Albert creation.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
CIRCA: 1971
CASE MATERIAL: White gold
CASE DIAMETER: 40 x 41 mm.
DIAL: Silvered
MOVEMENT: Manual
FUNCTIONS: Time only
BOX: No
PAPERS: No
WITH: Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1971 and its subsequent sale on 24 October 1972
REMARK: Designed by Gilbert Albert
Lot Essay
Designed by the illustrious Gilbert Albert, Patek Philippe’s celebrated ‘Ricochet’ collection is distinguished by its highly unconventional forms and textured surfaces. Reference 798, produced from 1964 until the early 1970s, is a particularly elegant expression of Albert’s avant-garde approach, taking the form of an ultra-thin cushion-shaped pocket watch.
The present timepiece is distinguished by the remarkable bark-like texture extending across both the case and dial, creating a richly tactile surface and transforming an otherwise restrained design into a highly sculptural object. Beneath this unusual exterior lies the manually wound calibre 23-300, whose slender construction complements the exceptionally thin profile of the watch.
The two-piece case was manufactured by Wenger, identified by Geneva Master case maker key 1, while the dial was supplied by the celebrated Stern Frères. Reference 798 was produced in both yellow and white gold, with fewer than 100 examples believed to have been made in each metal. Today, fewer than ten examples of each version are known to have reappeared on the market, underlining the exceptional rarity of this fascinating Gilbert Albert creation.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
