Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse Ultra-Thin ref. 3577/2

What’s there to say about Patek Philippe that hasn’t already been said? Widely renowned as one of the finest watchmakers ever, Patek’s timepieces are inarguably well-made, timeless, and iconic. With a wide-ranging catalogue that has covered just about every type of watch out there, Patek’s renown knows no bounds, and it is collections like the Golden Ellipse that has enabled Patek to become the behemoth they are today. Launched in 1968 and taking direct inspiration from the mathematical Golden Ratio (1:1.6181) to design a case that was neither a circle nor a rectangle, a harmony of both, the Golden Ellipse is refinement and elegance personified.

Released in 1973, five years after the introduction of the Ellipse collection to Patek's roster, the ref. 3577 featured an ultra-thin case design that reduced the Golden Ellipse’s case from its typical 6mm thickness to only 5mm. While that is only a 1mm reduction, when the margins are this… thin, it’s actually quite a lot. Indeed, the bezel profile is also a little different from other Golden Ellipses, with a flat bezel instead of the rounded-over bezel profile that you would expect. Featuring an integrated chainmail bracelet made by esteemed jewellery-maker and goldsmith Jean-Pierre Ecoffey, the resulting aesthetic is that of true luxury, as the entire watch fills the wrist with a truly impressive presence that is in no doubt aided by its 33mm x 26mm case dimensions. 

Offered with a handful of different dial colors, materials and configurations, the ref. 3577 was, and still is, a naturally varied timepiece that speaks to just as wide a diaspora of collectors today as it did back in the day.  An extreme rarity for the Golden Ellipse collection, this model is not only ultra-thin, but also fitted with a wonderfully unique champagne sunburst dial. Unlike other Golden Ellipses, the ref. 3577 that we have here features beautiful gold hands and golden hour markers that are all decorated with a hobnail Clous de Paris texture that gives them an incredible level of depth and detail.

Fitted with one of the thinnest manual-wind movements in the world at the time, the ref. 3577 features the cal. 175 movement that enables it to retain a thin and easily wearable profile to complement its classy aesthetic and operate as a splendid dress watch today, just as it did in the 1970s.

Presented in excellent condition, this example’s case and bracelet are very well-preserved, without any major signs of wear and tear like dents or deep scratches. Its bracelet has been cut at some point along its lifespan and now fits a wrist of about 7.25”. It has also been serviced by our watchmaker before going into stock, and is thus running well and fully functional. Its hands are pristine and so too are all of its hour markers. The champagne dial does feature some very small pieces of spotting between its Patek Philippe logo and central handstack, whereby its champagne colour is a shade lighter in two very small spots. These are hard to see in person and only really show up in specific lighting conditions.

Brand: Patek Philippe
Model: Golden Ellipse Ultra-Thin
Reference: 3577/2
Set: Watch only
Year: Circa 1970s
Dial: Champagne with Clous de Paris hands and indices
Material: 18kt yellow gold
Movement: Manual-wind cal. 175
Case Diameter: 27mm
Thickness: 5.5mm
Lug-to-lug: 34mm
Bracelet/Strap: 18kt yellow gold Jean-Pierre Ecoffey chainmail bracelet fitting up to a 7.25" wrist