Lot 106

Patek Philippe Genève, Movement No. 8145, Case No. 2732410, Ref. 3603, Cal. Beta 21 quartz, 33 x 37 mm, circa 1974
A vintage Geneva wristwatch in near mint condition, with date and legendary Beta 21 calibre in the eccentric style of the early 1970's - sold on May 20th, 1974 - with original box, original certificate and Patek Philippe extract from the archives
Case: 18k gold, push back, 18k gold Patek Philippe buckle. Dial: gold, blue.
Patek Philippe and several with other Swiss manufacturers founded the joint project the "Electronic Watch Center" (CEH) aimed at the development of a quartz wrist caliber. In 1969 calibre Beta 21 (29 x 24,3 mm) was ready for production and was presented at the Basel Fair in 1970. At the time of its release watches powered by this calibre were much more expensive of their mechanical counterparts.
Patek Philippe produced reference 3603 from 1974 to 1982. The watches were available with several different dial variants that were all based on a heavy gold dial plate. They came with either gold bracelets or leather straps, with the gold bracelet the more common one. Only about 20 examples in yellow gold with leather straps have come on the market recently.

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