Patek Philippe

18k, electronic movement (cal.B-22), 13 jewels, blue satin finished dial, applied luminescent numerals and hands, centre seconds, aperture for date, massive satin finished cushion form case, stepped bezel, screw-down case back, 18k gold integrated grill form bracelet, case, dial, movement and bracelet signed, accompanied by an Extract from the Archives.

The accompanying Extract from the Patek Philippe Archives confirms that this watch was manufactured in 1973 and sold on 28th September the same year.

Reference 3587/2 was introduced by Patek Philippe in 1969 and production ceased around 1972. It is an interesting and unusual wristwatch that played its part in an important and defining moment of watchmaking history. In the promotional literature for this watch, it was stated that the movement was accurate to 1/10th of a second per day and that it should gain or lose no more than 30 seconds per year. Little wonder, therefore, that such great speculation surrounded the future of mechanical watches during the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. As we now know, the electronic watch was to lead to a crisis in the watchmaking industry that was to last well into the 1980s, before appreciation for the mechanical wristwatch gained momentum once more.

Approximately 100 examples of this model were made in yellow gold, yet only around 10 have appeared at auction.