Patek Philippe Ladies' Cocktail Watch

Though the famous Calatrava is — for good reason — perhaps the best known of Patek Philippe’s incredible dress watches, there are myriad others that deserve recognition. From the rectangular Gondolo to the curvaceous Golden Ellipse, these timepieces, though simple in design, beg a closer look for their classic proportions and strict attention to detail. Patek has been producing such wristwatches for roughly a century of its 180-plus years, and shows no signs of slowing down. This particular timepiece is a Reference 3076 ladies' cocktail watch from the 1950s — a time when these thin, often diamond-encrusted pieces were still highly in vogue. Measuring approximately 14mm wide in a barrel-shaped yellow gold case, it features a beautifully decorated bezel in a grain motif, an unsigned crown, and an acrylic crystal. Its simple silvered dial with black and applied gold quadrant indices is joined by a matching gold 'pencil' handset, while a spectacular integrated gold bracelet featuring dual rows of chevron-shaped links is joined to the case with diamond-set lugs. Breathtaking!  Powered by a hand-wound movement, this magnificent cocktail watch is ready to transport its next wearer back to the prime of midcentury elegance.