Beschreibung:

♦ PATEK PHILIPPE Gentleman's wristwatch "Beta 21". Manufacturer/Manufaktur: Patek Philippe, Geneva. Model: "Beta 21". Year/Jahr: 1972. Reference No./Referenz-Nr.: 3587. Movement No./Werk-Nr.: 976. Calibre/Kaliber: CEH Beta 21, Quartz. Case No./Gehäuse-Nr.: 532. Material: 18K yellow gold/Gelbgold. Braclet-Strap/Armband: Black crocodile leather Patek Philippe strap/Schwarzes Patek Philippe-Krokodillederarmband. Clasp-Buckle/Verschluss: 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle/Patek Philippe-Verschluss aus kt. Gelbgold. Dimensions/Grösse: 51xmm. Signed/Signiert: Dial, case, movement/Zifferblatt, Gehäuse, Werk. Accessories: Original fitted box, Extract from the Archives/Originalbox, Archivauszug. Electronic, vertical cushion-shaped gentleman's wristwatch, water-resistant, with centre-seconds and one horological complication: Instantaneous date of the month (aperture at o'clock). Polished two-piece case, with screwed case-back. Blue colour dial with radial applied yellow gold indexes. CEH Beta calibre (L. 39.mm. / l. 24.mm.), with quartz oscillator and turning fork escapement. Wasserdichte Herrenarmbanduhr mit Zentralsekunde und einer Komplikation: Datumsanzeige (bei 3-Uhr). Poliertes, zweiteiliges Gehäuse mit geschraubtem Boden. Blaues Zifferblatt mit Gelbgold-Indizes. Kaliber CEH Beta mit Quarzoszillator und Gabelhemmung. Bibliography: Huber & Banbery, 1998, pp. 85-87, 332. The Patek Philippe, Beta and Beta 22, the Reference is launched in and remained in production until the early-1980s. The majority in yellow gold, more rarely in white gold, even rarely in rose gold. Around examples have been produced, available with different type of dials, bezels and bracelets. The reference represents one of the milestones of Patek's history with the integration of the calibre CEH Beta movement, housed in a massive oversize case. In 1973, with the new calibre Beta 22, the model became Ref. 3597. This model of electronic watch is declined in several references allowing today connoisseurs to collect a dozen different pieces: Reference 3587, with cushion-shaped, leather strap; Reference 3587/1, with cushion-shaped, integrated "woven" bracelet; Reference 3587/2, with cushion-shaped, integrated textured and pierced mesh bracelet, so-called "Swiss Cheese". Usually characterised by its integrated bracelet, rare variations of the Beta have "T-bar" lugs with leather strap: Reference 3597/2, with cushion-shaped, leather strap; Reference 3603, with vertical rectangular-"cambré"-shaped, leather strap, with date at o'clock. These watches can be fitted with silver, gold or blue dials. In 1962, the CEH - Centre Electronique Horloger (Electronic Watch Centre) - was founded by a group of Swiss watchmakers, including Audemars Piguet, Omega, Patek Philippe, Piaget and Rolex, to develop an electronic movement for wristwatches. The result was the calibre Beta (x 24.mm.), fitted with a quartz oscillator (Hz. reduced to Hz. by the frequency reducer), jewel and turning fork escapement (Hz. quartz module first seen as a prototype in 1967). In 1968, a consortium of Swiss watch manufacturers was created to mass-produce the Beta 21, in a truly collaborative effort. The CEH designed the module and produced the integrated circuit. Ebauches SA (now ETA) manufactured the mechanical parts of the movement as well as the quartz oscillator, and, Omega produced the micro-motor driving the hands. The calibre was ready for production in and was presented at the Basel Fair in 1970.