Article: The Art of Divine Proportion: Focus on the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse Ref. 3848
The Art of Divine Proportion: Focus on the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse Ref. 3848
In a watchmaking world often dominated by technical complexity or sporty aesthetics, some watches choose a different path: that of silence and formal perfection. The Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse is not a watch that shouts for attention. It doesn’t need to. It captivates with its sheer presence.
Today, we highlight a masterpiece from our current collection: a Golden Ellipse Ref. 3848 from 1980, in 18k yellow gold.
More Than a Shape, a Mathematical Formula
When Patek Philippe launched the Ellipse in 1968, the Genevan house made a bold bet: to break free from the dictatorship of the round and the severity of the square. But this design did not come out of nowhere. It rests on the Golden Ratio (the divine ratio of 1 / 1.6181), a mathematical proportion discovered by ancient Greek mathematicians, which governs harmony in nature and art, from the nautilus shell to the architecture of the Parthenon.
This is what makes the Ref. 3848 so special on the wrist. The eye never tires of looking at it because its proportions seem naturally "right." It is soothing.
The Patek Blue: Abyssal Depth
The example we are offering embodies the most classic and sought-after configuration: the marriage of warm yellow gold and the blue sunburst dial.
This is not just any blue. It is a deep cobalt blue, obtained by a chemical treatment on a gold plate, which plays with the light. Sometimes dark, almost black in the shadows, it lights up with electric flashes in the sun.
On this 1980 model, the dial is of absolute purity: two baton hands, fine applied gold indices, and that’s it. No seconds hand to fragment time, no date to break the symmetry. Just the essentials. It is the very definition of "Quiet Luxury" before the term even existed.
On the Wrist: The Forgotten Elegance of Small Sizes
With its dimensions of 27 x 32 mm, the Ref. 3848 might seem small by hormone-fueled modern standards. This is a judgment error. It is a true "Dress Watch."
It was designed to slide effortlessly under a shirt cuff, to be an extension of the wrist rather than a weight. Powered by an ultra-thin manual-winding caliber, it imposes a morning ritual: taking a few seconds to wind your watch, a moment of physical connection with the mechanical object.
The Sabiwatches View
At Sabiwatches, we love objects that have crossed decades without aging. This piece from 1980 is in a remarkable state of preservation. The case has not lost its soft lines, and the hallmark is still visible.
It is a watch for the aesthete, for the person who understands that elegance does not lie in accumulation, but in correctness. Wearing an Ellipse is making the choice of design over ostentation.
Specifications & Availability
This piece is currently available for sale, fully serviced and guaranteed by our workshop.
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Model: Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse
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Reference: 3848
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Year: 1980
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Material: 18k Yellow Gold
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Dimensions: 27.0 mm (Width)
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Movement: Manual winding mechanical (Caliber 215)
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Dial: Blue Sunburst
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Strap: Alligator with original Patek Philippe pin buckle
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