Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse

The Golden Ellipse is Patek's answer to the question of what shape a watch should be if it isn't round or rectangular. Introduced in 1968, its case is built on the golden ratio, the roughly 1-to-1.618 proportion that has guided architects and artists since antiquity, and the result is an ultra-thin oval that looks like nothing else. For years collectors overlooked it, which is exactly why it became a quiet-connoisseur pick and, by Patek standards, something close to a bargain. The classic look pairs a deep blue dial with a gold case, and Patek revived the line in 2026 with a new olive-green version. It's one of the most distinctive shapes in watchmaking, and still one of the most underrated things Patek makes.