There is no doubt that Patek Philippe are regarded as the one of, if not the finest watch makers in the world, and here is a truly magnificent vintage Patek Philippe reference 3578/1 that is so unique and special and destined to always be admired for its elegance and style.
Made in 1975, the entire watch including the band is made in solid 18 carat yellow gold and wraps around the wrist so beautifully. Sitting on the wrist, this watch feels so smooth and tactile and slips perfectly under the sleeve.
However it is not just the yellow gold that makes this watch stand out, rather it each side that is set with an elongated piece of lapis lazuli, which is a natural material that is blue in colour with golden flecks of pyrite running through it.
And so typical of the true quality of Patek Philippe, not only are the index markers inlayed with more lapis, but astonishingly, so are the hands. This is just further justification on why Patek Philippe are so highly regarded the world over.
The case measures 30mm across plus the crown, and from end to end the watch measures 19.7cm in its full length and can be adjusted three sizes via the clasp.
And then as if Patek Philippe couldn't make this watch any more exciting, it is fitted with a Sigma dial. When looking at the bottom of the dial, on each side of the word Swiss, there is the Greek letter, Sigma which can be seen here Õ. What this subtle yet important mark designates, is that the hands and index markers are in solid gold. Used by approximately seven watch companies in Switzerland from 1970, it was among its main reason to signify when gold parts were on the dial to subsequently add to both the financial and intrinsic value of a watch.
Powered inside by the gorgeous manual wind 18 jewelled Patek Philippe calibre 177 that has just undergone a full service and comes with our twelve month warranty, this is a magnificent watch that is as beautiful on the outside as it is to see that gorgeous movement.
Stock# W1894cc
Maker: Patek Philippe
Model: Patek Philippe reference 3578/1
Circa: 1975
$Sold.
Out of stock
Vintage 18 carat Patek Philippe 3578/1 with lapis lazuli case and hands
Vintage Patek Philippe 3578/1 with lapis lazuli case and hands
This vintage Patek Philippe is fitted with the eighteen jewel manual wind Patek Philippe calibre 177.
A brief history on Patek Philippe:
Polish watchmaker Antoni Patek started making pocket watches in 1839 in Geneva, along with his fellow Czech-born Polish partner Franciszek Czapek. They separated in 1844, and in 1845 Patek joined with the French watchmaker Adrien Philippe, inventor of the keyless winding mechanism. Patek Philippe & Co was founded in 1851 and since then Patek Philippe have become famous for high grade movements such as the perpetual calendar, split-seconds hand, chronograph, and minute repeater in watches.
Making watches for such people as Pope Pius IX, Queen Victoria, Victor Emanuel III of Italy, Christian IX of Denmark, and Albert Einstein. Patek Philippe also made the worlds most expensive timepiece, the Henry Graves Super complication. Made in 1933 for the prominent banker Henry Graves, Jr. The ultra-complicated pocket watch has 24 functions and was the result of Graves friendly horological competition with James Ward Packard. After Graves death, the watch was auctioned at Sotheby's in December 1999 for US$11 million to Sheikh Saud Bin Mohammed Bin Ali Al-Thani of the Qatari royal family, at that time the most expensive timepiece ever sold. Most recently, the watch sold at Sotheby's Geneva Auction on November 11, 2014 for a record breaking US$24 million.
What is a sigma dials:
The history behind sigma dials is a very interesting one which has now made watches with these dials highly sought after. The sigma dial is discreetly marked with the Greek letter sigma (Ó) on each end of the T SWISS T or SWISS at the bottom of the dial. From 1970, watch companies who were members of the lâ Association pour la Promotion Industrielle de lâ Or (APRIOR), such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, IWC, Omega and Vacheron & Constantin to name a few, produced dials with the sigma letter to notify that the hands and index markers are made in gold. This was used at a time when the Japanese "quartz revolution" started coming in, and sigma dials were produced for one main reason to notify when gold parts were used on a watch, including the dial to subsequently add to both the financial and intrinsic value of a watch. An important and quite interesting point to note, is that the sigma dials can be found on watches that are made all in stainless steel ie case, band and bezel, but with a sigma dial, not the index markers and hands.
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