Watches and Wonders 2024: Golden Ellipse Ref. 5738/1R-001, the Slimmest Patek Philippe Watch

The Golden Ellipse has always been a Patek Philippe style icon but this marks the first time the large-sized model is paired with a gorgeous chain-style bracelet. Discover the rest of our Watches and Wonder 2024 coverage.

Inspired by the famous golden ratio that dictates the universal beauty stemmed from ideal proportions, evident in some of the greatest architectural and artistic works in history such as the Great Pyramid of Giza or Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa; the Golden Ellipse too stuns with its circle-meets-rectangle elliptical case of harmonious proportions (34.5 x 39.5mm).

First introduced in 1968 with a yellow gold case and blue gold dial, the Golden Ellipse with its instantly recognisable silhouette effortlessly stood out as a style icon of the Patek Philippe collections. Several renditions of the watch surfaced over the years, always in various hues of gold and different shades of dials, complemented by leather straps and metal bracelets. This, however, marks the first time a large-sized Golden Ellipse model is paired with an elegant chain-style bracelet.

Washed in 18K rose gold for both the case and bracelet that frames an ebony-black sunburst dial, the Golden Ellipse Ref. 5738/1R-001 serves a harmonious visual reinterpretation. Its beauty is made complete with baton-type hour-markers and slim cheveu-type hands, both in rose gold, and a black cabochon-cut onyx set into the crown.

The highlight rests in the new 18K rose gold bracelet, which took 15 years of development to achieve its modern, patented construction. Made of 363 parts that include over 300 links, each manually assembled and hand-polished throughout, the bracelet curves comfortably around the wrist. For easy lengthening or shortening needs, it is complemented by an engraved 18K rose gold clasp that features three adjustment notches.

Since decades ago, Patek Philippe has taken pride in their bracelets for its technical and aesthetic inventiveness. It takes two for the manufacture’s metal bracelets to be constructed. The first type requires artisan chainsmiths to individually craft the links of the chain bracelets from a gold wire or another metal’s wire. It is then hand-assembled to produce a supple structure. The second utilises CNC machinery to create the links, clasps and catches of the bracelets from a bar of metal, be it gold, platinum or steel. These are then assembled and polished (or satin brushed) all by hand. The new chain-style bracelet equipped only on the Golden Ellipse Ref. 5738/1R-001 is a testament of uniting the best of both these methods.

Additionally, the Golden Ellipse Ref. 5738/1R-001 makes it mark as the slimmest Patek Philippe watch in the regular collection as it features a case with an incredibly low profile at 5.9mm. This is made possible thanks to the ultra-thin caliber 240 self-winding movement with an off-centre mini-rotor in 22K gold serving as the watch’s beating heart. Comprising 161 parts and with a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour, the caliber also delivers 48 hours of power reserve. It has a water resistance of up to 30m and, to take the dressy watch to the next level, matching cufflinks in rose gold with a sunburst ebony black centre can be found in the collection too.

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