Entrepreneur Alessandro Squarzi spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Alessandro Squarzi, the Bolognese entrepreneur and Creative Director behind Fortela, was recently spotted wearing a vintage Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse in yellow gold, reference 3738 — a choice that says as much about his eye for proportion as anything in his wardrobe.

The Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse Ref. 3738 debuted in 1968 as one of the Geneva manufacture's boldest formal statements. Where competitors were racing toward round sports watches, Patek Philippe turned to Euclidean geometry. The case follows the golden ratio of 1:1.618, the same mathematical constant that governs nautilus shells, Renaissance architecture, and the Parthenon's facade. The result is a case that measures approximately 31mm × 27mm — neither round nor rectangular, but immediately recognizable. The ref. 3738 houses a manually wound calibre 215 PS, a wafer-thin movement at just 2.55mm tall, delivering roughly 44 hours of power reserve. Its integrated blue dial — in the most iconic iterations — features a subtle concentric pattern that reinforces the elliptical geometry.

Among collectors, the Golden Ellipse occupies a curious and rewarding position. It is unambiguously a Patek Philippe, yet it has historically traded at a discount to the brand's more celebrated references — the Calatrava, the perpetual calendars, the complicated dress pieces. That gap has narrowed considerably in recent years as the market re-evaluates mid-century and late-1960s Patek production. Yellow gold examples of the ref. 3738 with original dials in clean condition are increasingly sought after, particularly as younger collectors look beyond Nautilus and Aquanaut into the manufacture's deeper catalog.

Squarzi is no casual watch wearer. His public appearances and social media presence have documented an extensive and considered collection that tends toward vintage Italian and Swiss pieces with strong design narratives. Choosing the Golden Ellipse Ref. 3738 is entirely consistent with a sensibility built around historical craft and geometric discipline — precisely the values Fortela projects through its workwear aesthetic.

On the current grey market, clean yellow gold examples of the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse Ref. 3738 with original dials typically trade in the $8,000–$14,000 range depending on condition, box, and papers. As vintage dress watch appetite continues to broaden, that floor looks conservative.