Swiss 18K gold keyless Ricochet lever dress watch Circa 1962

Gold ladies’ watch
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A very fine and rare Swiss 18 carat gold open faced Ricochet keyless dress watch designed by Gilbert Albert for Patek Philippe in Geneva, circa 1962. This watch features a rhodium plated movement, Geneva Striping decoration and is stamped with the Seal of the Geneva quality mark. It has 18 jewels, a straight line lever escapement and Gyromax balance adjusted for heat, cold, isochronism and five positions, along with a shock absorber and a self compensating Breguet balance spring. The solid case is adorned with bark decoration in a sunburst pattern and a graduated bezel that displays black champlevé Roman hour numerals. The gold bark finished dial is designed to match the case, showcasing black gold hands. The dial, case and movement are all signed. It comes with an Extract from the Archives confirming the date of sale on August 1st, 1963.
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Diameter: 39 mm
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Signed: Patek Philippe Genève
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The case is in very good condition, with patina developed around the edges. The gold mark is clear and crisp on the case back. The dial is overall in very good condition, showing light signs of dust throughout. The movement is running.
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Gilbert Albert, born September 20, 1930, is a renowned Genevan jewellery designer and artist.
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In 1955, he began designing wristwatch cases for Patek Philippe. Breaking away from traditional shapes, he introduced asymmetrical triangles and rhombic forms inspired by his passion for modern sculpture and works by artists such as Brancusi and Mondrian.
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Albert gave textured organic surfaces to the asymmetrical shapes of the Patek Philippe ‘Ricochet’ collection. However, many of his more revolutionary designs remained prototypes and were not produced in series.
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In 1962, he established his own workshop, designing and producing jewellery under his own name. Over the years, he became very successful, both in Geneva and internationally, receiving numerous awards for his jewellery. Gilbert Albert’s creations are exhibited worldwide.