Patek Philippe

The reference 3734 is a classic TV-shaped wristwatch by Patek Philippe from the 1980s and a collectable piece in its own right. What makes this particular example stand out is that it carries the signature of Hafez Al-Assad on the dial. It is unclear if the watch was a special order for the then president of Syria personally, or if it was intended as a gift on his behalf. What we know is that the Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirms the signature as it states 'white matte dial, 11 applied sword shaped indexes in yellow gold, government signature'. According to our research it is the only known example with this dial and in fact appears to be the only Patek Philippe with the Hafez Al-Assad signature that has surfaced to the market so far. Other brands such as Rolex have been known to make special dials with Assad-signatures, though they normally read 'Leader Hafez Al-Assa' as opposed to the present example which simply states 'Hafez Al-Assad.'

The present lot has been retained in attractive condition with beautiful proportions and crisp hallmarks, and is offered with its Ellipse buckle.