Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1985 Reference No: 3652 Movement No: 866'788 Case No: 2'818'356 Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 11"', 29 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold PPCo pin buckle Dimensions: 31mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed, dial further signed Golay Fils & Stahl Accessories: Accompanied by its original Certificate of Origin, Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming date of manufacture of the present watch in 1985 and its subsequent sale in August, 28, 1985, leather folder, product literature and copy of the production ledger
Catalogue Essay
The minute repeater, due to its complexity and high cost of production, has always been the reserve of a small and exclusive club of manufactures.
One of the most dauting tasks for watchmakers, at the turn of the 20th century, was to miniaturize these delicate yet extremely complex chiming mechanisms to fit into wristwatches. A feat that the watchmakers at Patek Philippe have mastered, making theses masterpieces from the famed Geneva brand amongst the most coveted minute repeating wristwatches on the market.
Patek Philippe’s first repeating wristwatch dates from 1916, a small 10”’ 5-minute repeater housed in a lady’s platinum case. The brand’s very first minute repeating wristwatch was made in 1924 in a beautiful tortue shaped platinum case and yellow gold repeating slide.
It wasn’t until the launch of the iconic reference 2419 in 1946 that Patek Philippe started giving reference numbers to its repeating wristwatches. However, with tastes moving towards more simple uncomplicated designs, Patek Philippe stopped producing minute repeaters in the late 1950s. Collectors had to wait close to 30 years and the lauch of reference 3979 before seeing minute repeaters in the Patek Philippe catalogue.
The present reference 3652 is unique in many ways. Not only is it the only known example of this reference, leading us to believe it was made upon special order, but it was manufactured in 1985, years after Patek Philippe has ceased serial production of minute repeater wristwatches.
An 11’” caliber was chosen for this timepiece as it was to be housed in the case of the iconic reference 96, the original Calatrava that had been discontinued in the early 1970s.
It seems that the commissioner of this superlative timepiece wanted to own a timepiece that reflected perfectly the Patek Philippe ethos and design elegance by choosing to revive the reference 96 as a minute repeater.
The watch is in extremely attractive and well preserved condition, having safely resided in an important collection since 2005 and its first appearance on the market. The beautiful cream grené dial remains flawless and the chimes are loud, crisp and seraphic…as one could expect from Patek Philippe.
The watch not only comes with its original Certificate of Origin but also copy of the production ledgers.
The offer of a unique Patek Philippe minute repeater is always an exciting moment. Such stunning examples hardly ever come to the market, and when they do, it is an occasion to be celebrated.
Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.
Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.