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Created in 1917 and launched two years later, the Cartier Tank has established itself as one of the most influential watch designs of the 20th century...

Cartier Tank LC

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Patek Philippe

Pin buckle

Introduced in 1968, the design of Patek Philippe's Ellipse is no accident, as it is based on the golden ratio, considered the “divine proportion” found in nature and in the greatest architectural and artistic works. Following on from the first men's references 3546 and 3548, reference 3849 was introduced in the late 1970s and remained in production until 1998.

The elliptical case, made of 18-karat white gold, features a bezel set with 60 diamonds and has refined dimensions that are perfectly suited to all wrists.   

The dial, manufactured by specialist Singer for Patek Philippe, stands out with its deep blue sunburst finish, an iconic signature of the Ellipse collection. The four diamond hour markers and gold hands, deliberately minimalist, create an elegant and legible contrast, emphasizing the purity of the design.

The “Sigma σ” symbol on the dial at 6 o'clock was introduced in the 1970s by the Association pour la Promotion Industrielle de l'Or (APRIOR) to highlight prestigious manufacturers who use precious materials in their watches and to indicate that the hands and hour markers are made of gold, as is the dial on this model.

This version of the Ellipse, whose dimensions are very similar to the original model, is equipped with a hand-wound mechanical movement, the caliber 215, which appeared in 1974 and is still in use today. The caliber 215 is the first to be equipped with the Gyromax, operating at 28,800 beats per hour. This movement is distinguished by its remarkable stability over long periods, making it ideal for everyday use.

The watch comes with an extract from the Patek Philippe archives (to follow).

Blue

Hours

Minutes

Discover this superb Patek Philippe Ellipse 3849 available at our showroom in Geneva.

Ellipse

Manual

Extract of the archives

Leather

White Gold

Vacheron Constantin

Folding Clasp

Launched in 1977 to celebrate Vacheron Constantin's 222nd anniversary, the Reference 222 occupies a fundamental place in the history of the Manufacture. Designed by Jörg Hysek, it was part of the wave of luxury sports watches with integrated bracelets that appeared in the 1970s, alongside the Royal Oak and the Nautilus, designed by Gérald Genta.

Originally produced in steel, yellow gold, and two-tone, the 222 was available in two sizes: 37 mm (Jumbo) and 34 mm. While the gold versions were more common at the time, the steel 222 is now considered the most desirable and rare, becoming a true icon for collectors.

The modern reissue, the Historiques 222 ref. 4200H/222A-B934, pays faithful homage to the original model, while benefiting from the manufacturer's contemporary standards. It retains the iconic features of the 1977 model: a tonneau case with clean lines, a fluted bezel, an integrated bracelet and, above all, the Maltese cross applied to the right side of the case, the model's instantly recognizable signature.

The steel case has a diameter of 37 mm, echoing the proportions of the historic Jumbo version. Its monobloc construction and alternating satin and polished finishes on the chamfers reinforce its sporty-chic character, while its slim profile ensures excellent comfort on the wrist. The sleek, perfectly legible matte blue dial is punctuated with applied hour markers and baton hands, faithful to the aesthetics of the 1970s. 

The watch is powered by the 2455/2 automatic manufacture caliber, developed and decorated to the highest standards of Vacheron Constantin and stamped with the Hallmark of Geneva, synonymous with provenance, craftsmanship, and reliability. This movement offers a comfortable 40-hour power reserve and a meticulous finish, visible through the sapphire crystal case back, adding a touch of modernity to this historic reinterpretation.

The watch comes as a full set with its box, travel case, wallet, and original warranty card.

Date

Discover this superb Vacheron Constantin Les Historiques 222 4200H/222A-B934 in steel, available at our showroom in Geneva.

Historiques

Automatic

International warranty card

Stainless steel

Steel

Audemars Piguet

Introduced in 1972, the first Royal Oak ref. 5402 was designed by one of the most prolific watchmakers, Gerald Genta. Inspired by a diving helmet and designed in a single night, this model was unprecedented at the time: a 39 mm steel case that earned it the nickname “Jumbo” and an impressive price tag of CHF 3,750, more than ten times the price of a Rolex Submariner.

Alongside the production of the iconic Royal Oak, a smaller version of this watch was launched in 1976, the Ref. 4100, the first “mid-size” Royal Oak, with a 35 mm case, offering a more versatile alternative better suited to a wider range of wrists, while retaining the aesthetic DNA of the original model.

The Ref. 4100BA stands out with its 18-karat yellow gold case and bracelet, giving the Royal Oak a decidedly luxurious interpretation for a watch historically designed as a steel sports watch. The octagonal case and integrated bracelet amplify its presence on the wrist, giving the watch a more imposing stature than its dimensions suggest.

This example, manufactured in 1983, features a rare matte gold-colored small tapestry dial, in keeping with the era, and is equipped with the automatic caliber 2123, which has a power reserve of approximately 40 hours and a stop-second mechanism for precise adjustment.

The watch comes with its Audemars Piguet archive extract and has a notable provenance, having been presented at auction at Christie's in May 2022.

Champagne

Seconds

Discover this rare Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 4100BA available at our showroom in Geneva.

Royal Oak

Yellow gold

Yellow Gold

Introduced in 1968, the design of Patek Philippe's Ellipse was not chosen at random. It is based on the golden ratio, considered to be the “divine proportion” found in nature and in the greatest works of architecture and art.

This particularly rare version of the Ellipse features a bezel with a decorative “Clou de Paris” pattern consisting of small pyramid-shaped reliefs, and its case measures 28.6 mm wide compared to 27 mm for the original model. The dials, manufactured by specialist Singer for Patek Philippe, offer a simple yet striking contrast between the blue color and the yellow gold hour markers and hands.
In addition, this model displays the date in a small window at 3 o'clock and is equipped with a quartz movement, the caliber E 23 SC, perfect for everyday use.

Our model is equipped with an MK2 dial (see our [article](https://www.41watch.com/en/journal/historical-reviews-of-iconic-watches/technical-review-of-the-patek-philippe-ellipse) on this subject), recognizable by its flat hour markers and hands, the word “Geneve” without an accent, and the “Sigma σ” symbols visible at 6 o'clock on the dial. The “Sigma σ” symbol, introduced in the 1970s by the Association pour la Promotion Industrielle de l'Or (APRIOR), highlights prestigious manufacturers that use precious materials for their watches and indicates that the hour markers are made of solid gold, as is the dial for this model.

The watch comes with its Patek Philippe certificate of origin (dated 1987).

Discover this superb Patek Philippe Ellipse 3931 Certificate of Origin available at our showroom in Geneva.

Quartz

Certificate of origin

Clasp

Introduced in 1968, Patek Philippe's Ellipse collection immediately established itself as one of the manufacture's most distinctive creations. Its design is based on the golden ratio, an ideal mathematical proportion that gives the watch perfect visual balance. This unique approach has allowed the Ellipse to stand the test of time without ever losing its modernity or elegance.

Reference 4258 belongs to the Ellipse Medium category, a particularly refined intermediate size. Presented here in an exceptional configuration, it illustrates Patek Philippe's jewelry and watchmaking expertise at its highest level. Crafted in white gold, this version is distinguished by a bezel set with two rows of diamonds, a particularly rare feature that gives the watch a luxurious presence while remaining understated.

The deep blue dial, an iconic signature of the Ellipse collection and manufactured by Stern Frères, features a sunburst finish that highlights the diamond hour markers. The overall effect is one of perfect legibility and pure aesthetics, faithful to the minimalist spirit of the model.

The elliptical white gold case retains its harmonious proportions (26 x 31mm), enhanced by a white gold Polish mesh bracelet crafted by Jean-Pierre Ecoffey (JPE), a craftsman renowned for the exceptional quality of his bracelets. A line of diamonds is also set at each end of the bracelet, reinforcing the watch's exclusive, jeweler-like character.

The Patek Philippe Ellipse 4258 is powered by the caliber 16-250 hand-wound mechanical movement, ensuring an extremely slim case and a timekeeping experience faithful to the traditions of the manufacture.

Note that there is also a self-winding Jumbo version, reference 3609/1G.

The watch comes with an archive extract (to follow).

Discover this superb Patek Philippe Ellipse 4258/1 available at our showroom in Geneva.

White gold

Introduced in 1968, the design of Patek Philippe's Ellipse was not chosen at random, but is based on the golden ratio, considered to be the “divine proportion” found in nature and in the greatest architectural and artistic works. Following on from the first men's references 3546 and 3548, reference 3848 was introduced in 1977 and remained in production until 1998.

The elliptical case, made of 18-karat white gold, has refined dimensions that are perfectly suited to all wrists. 

The dial, manufactured by specialist Singer for Patek Philippe, is distinguished by its deep blue sunburst finish, an iconic signature of the Ellipse collection. The deliberately minimalist gold hour markers and hands create an elegant and legible contrast, emphasizing the purity of the design.

The “Sigma σ” symbol at 6 o'clock on the dial was introduced in the 1970s by the Association pour la Promotion Industrielle de l'Or (APRIOR) to highlight prestigious manufacturers who use precious materials in their watches and to indicate that the hands and hour markers are made of gold, as is the dial on this model.

This version of the Ellipse, whose dimensions are very similar to the original model, is equipped with a hand-wound mechanical movement, the caliber 215, which appeared in 1974 and is still in use today. The caliber 215 is the first to be equipped with the Gyromax, operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour. This movement is distinguished by its remarkable stability over long periods, making it ideal for everyday use.

The watch comes with an extract from the Patek Philippe archives (on order).

Discover this superb Patek Philippe Ellipse 3848 available at our showroom in Geneva.


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Cartier Tank LC

Our Complete Collection

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Cartier Tank LC

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Wrist Impression - MB&F LM101

History - F.P. Journe Chronometre a Resonance

"First wrist impression" articles