Wristwatches · Wristwatch
18ct white gold Patek Philippe ref. 3589/1 "Ellipse" automatic bracelet watch, 1970
- Maker / attribution
- Patek Philippe (maker)
- Date
- 1970
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- white gold
- Dimensions
- Case 35 mm
- Stock no.
- G3151
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Somlo Antiques (G3151)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 18ct white gold Patek Philippe ref. 3589/1 "Ellipse" automatic bracelet watch. Made 1970 (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Somlo Antiques (dealer), London (stock number G3151), this is a wristwatch by Patek Philippe, made in Switzerland, dated 1970. 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 Patek Philippe Ellipse was created in 1968 with its design inspired by the Golden Section, also known as 'the divine proportion'. The reference 3548 was produced from 1967 until 1976 . It was together with Ref. 3546 Patek Philippe's first Ellipse models. The exquisite blue dial on this model is actually made from gold which has been transformed by a special Patek Philippe process to look blue. Patek Philippe subsequently introduced the reference 3930 in 1976 and remained in production until the late 1980’s. Although published in Patek Philippe's sales catalogues, it appears that the models cased in stainless steel were borrowed to clients while their watches were being serviced. Some pieces were also given as reward to deserving employees. Brand: Patek Philippe Made: 1970 Model: Ellipse Reference: 3589/1 Calibre: 28-255 Movement: Manual Material: 18ct white gold Features/complications: Automatic Dial: Sunburst blue cobalt dial featuring applied mirror polished hour indices with Roman numeral quarters and 18ct white gold baton hands Case dimensions: 32 x 35mm Bracelet/strap: Integrated 18ct white gold bracelet, length approximately 170mm Accessories: Extract from the Archives SKU: 3151
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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