A more unusual Patek Philippe dress watch, with stunning blue dial set into the rectangular case. Model reference 3557.
HOW DO WE DATE THIS WATCH?
We do not have the original, but we have a colour photocopy of the Extract from the Archives for this watch. With the matching serial number, and description clearly stating it was delivered with the satin finish blue dial, we can see it was made in 1968 and sold on the 25th June 1968. A full copy would be available from Patek Philippe, but the current cost is CHF 500 (around £400). Reference 3557 was launched in 1966, so would pre date the Golden Ellipse range that is still being produced today.
CONDITION
There are lists of things when looking at any vintage Patek Philippe that you would like to see. Apart from the box and papers, this has them all. The crown is signed. The buckle is 18k gold original and rare – stamped PPC on the inside only, some got swapped with strap changes for gold plated versions and this gold buckle alone is worth hundreds. The strap is also a Patek Philippe example, with lots of life left in it. The case finishing is superb, with no signs of damage and it hasn’t been engraved before either. The dial has no lume, and is close to perfect, but the hour markers have some tarnishing. It is worth looking at the video to see how the dial changes with the light. The movement is the in house calibre 23-300, again with matching serial number to the extract so we know it is original to the watch. It is hand wound and running well, with the sort of finishing reserved for the very best watches.
This watch will be supplied with our branded presentation box, the photocopy of the Extract from the Archives, and our Certificate of Authenticity.
This watch has been checked against the Watch Register and has not been reported as lost, stolen or implicated in fraud, and a copy of that certificate will also be included.
Please see the HD video for more detail. All photos and videos are part of the description and are of the actual watch unless mentioned. We do not photoshop any pictures, and the images are copyright of birthyearwatches.com and should not be used without permission.
SIZE
Width with crown 28.9 mm
Width without crown 27.4 mm
Between lugs 21 mm
Lug to lug length 33.6 mm
Case Thickness 6.0 mm
All sizes are approximate. The watch is photographed on a wrist of 190mm/7.5 inches.
Included with this watch is a 3 month guarantee and free delivery to UK addresses. If you live outside the UK we can still deliver to most countries. Please see our Worldwide Shipping information, or Contact Us. Payment can be made by most credit or debit cards, bank transfer or PayPal.
From 1st September 2021 we will be planting a tree for every watch we sell, working with the International Tree Foundation (Est 1922) to make this business positive on carbon. By buying anything pre owned you are effectively reusing what already exists, but this takes it further and makes us feel good.
