Wristwatches · Wristwatch
18ct white gold Patek Philippe ref. 3588/7 Automatic bracelet watch with cobalt blue dial, 1978
- Maker / attribution
- Patek Philippe (maker)
- Date
- 1978
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- white gold
- Dimensions
- Case 35 mm
- Stock no.
- G3332
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Somlo Antiques (G3332)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 18ct white gold Patek Philippe ref. 3588/7 Automatic bracelet watch with cobalt blue dial. Made 1978 (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Somlo Antiques (dealer), London (stock number G3332), this is a wristwatch by Patek Philippe, made in Switzerland, dated 1978. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: white gold. Recorded dimensions: Case 35 mm. The record is illustrated with 4 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Somlo Antiques
The founding of Patek Philippe in 1839 can be traced back to the Polish insurrection of 1830. Taking part in the revolt against Russian rule was a young cavalry officer, Antoine Norbert de Patek who, like many of his compatriots was forced to flee Poland and eventually settle in Geneva. Today, vintage Patek Philippe is a titan in the vintage luxury watch community. Their obsessive attention to detail combined with ground-breaking feats such as the first serially produced, perpetual calendar wristwatches as well as the first split-second chronograph wristwatch, have made Patek Philippe wristwatches and pocket watches some of the most sought after in the world. Brand: Patek Philippe Made: 1978 Model: Bracelet watch Reference: 3588/7 Calibre: 28 - 255 Movement: Automatic Material: 18ct white gold Features/complications: Bezel set with 52 diamonds weighing approx. 0.99 carats Dial: Cobalt blue dial featuring diamond set indices and white gold dauphine hands Case dimensions: 35mm Bracelet/strap: 18ct white gold bracelet with clasp setting Accessories: Extract from the Archives SKU: 3332
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Automatic (self-winding) watches
Self-winding watches use the wearer's motion to wind the mainspring. Abraham-Louis Perrelet and Breguet made 'perpétuelle' pocket watches with oscillating weights in the late eighteenth century, but the principle only became practical in the wristwatch. John Harwood patented a bumper automatic in 1923; Rolex's Perpetual rotor (1931) winding in one direction, and later bidirectional rotors (Eterna, Felsa Bidynator), established the modern form. Micro-rotors (Universal Genève, Buren) and peripheral rotors made automatic watches thinner.
What to look for
- A semicircular rotor turning 360° over the movement, or a 'bumper' weight that rebounds between springs.
- 'Automatic', 'Perpetual' or 'Self-winding' on the dial.
- A sealed screw-back case, since automatic watches are wound less often by the crown.
Dating clues
- Bumper automatics: 1923–c. 1955.
- Full rotors: from 1931 (Rolex); widespread after c. 1950.
- Micro-rotors: from 1954–1958.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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