11 Patek Philippe An elegant and refined, Ellipse Lady, wristwatch in yellow gold, with Onyx dial and diamond-set bezel, reference 4312.

Estimate: € 5.000 –⁠ 10.000

At a time when the watchmaking world leaned heavily toward function-first aesthetics, Patek Philippe dared to explore elegance with abstraction. Nowhere is this more evident than in the maison’s work from the 1970s—a decade marked by boundary-pushing design and mechanical restraint. In these years, Patek embraced shapes that challenged convention: asymmetries, ellipses, and softened squares, all underscored by an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship and refinement. This was not simply design for design’s sake—it was horological sculpture, distilled into wearable form. Exemplifying that ethos is the present timepiece, a stunning example of mid-century modernism wrapped in timeless glamour. Cased in 18k yellow gold, its gently rounded Ellipse cushion-form is framed by a dazzling rivière of brilliant-cut diamonds, each stone meticulously set to trace the sinuous curves of the bezel. The dial—an abyssal, obsidian-black void—bears no indices, no complication, only the purity of two dauphine hands and a crisp Patek Philippe signature, allowing the materiality and proportion to speak uninterrupted. The interplay between the glossy dial and the richly textured gem-set bezel evokes a tension between silence and spectacle, restraint and opulence. The present Patek Philippe Ellipse is as much a work of minimalist art as it is a jewel—an object that invites not only admiration, but contemplation.

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