Maker: Patek Philippe
Model: La Flamme Haute Joaillerie 4817/31
Year: 1990s
Material: 18k Yellow Gold, Sapphires, Diamonds 
Dial: Pavé Diamond and Sapphires and Diamond Baguette Bezel
Case Measurement: 24mm
Movement: Quartz 
Condition: Very Good
Weight:  73 Grams
Size: Fits Up to 6.1" Wrist
Includes: Original Box
Made in Switzerland

When we call a watch a showstopper, we mean this theatrical beauty by Patek Philippe. The La Flamme Haute Joaillerie reference 4817/31 is a stunning expression of the manufacture’s late‑20th‑century jewellery watch design, conceived at a moment when Geneva houses were exploring sculptural, gem‑set bracelets as objets d’art in their own right. 

The bracelet, a cascade of interlocking gold flames that gives the line its evocative name, is set with diamonds and accented by calibré‑cut sapphires that shimmer like streams of blue. The bracelet narrows toward a case of pavé diamonds, the bezel patterned with stones that turn the surface into its own shimmering landscape. The diamond-pavé dial is marked by sapphires, meant to mark the hours, though they seem far more interested in color and light. Every link is finished like fine jewelry, each stone hand-set and perfectly balanced. This is watchmaking as performance.

The La Flamme series reflected the period’s taste for sumptuous, integrated bracelet watches that could accompany formal evening wear while showcasing the technical prowess of Geneva lapidaries. Swiss‑made quartz calibre allowed for fluid, wrist‑hugging bracelets and generous gem‑setting surfaces without sacrificing comfort.   

Factory gem‑set La Flamme watches were produced in comparatively small numbers relative to Patek Philippe’s core collections, and variants combining diamonds with coloured stones such as sapphires are particularly sought after.

This example, preserved in very good condition, accompanied by its original box and sized for a wrist up to 6.1 inches, presents as a complete period ensemble and a representative document of Patek Philippe’s high jewellery artistry in the last decade of the 20th century.

We think of the La Flamme as possessing a charm, a kind of magic, where the master artisans at Patek Philippe have created a watch so brilliant it seems able to hold the light for just a moment longer than time itself permits.

All vintage and pre-owned watches sold by Stephanie Windsor are guaranteed to be genuine and authentic.  We also guarantee the proper functioning of your watch’s mechanical movement for one (1) year from the date of purchase.  Our warranty does not cover damage resulting from accidents, misuse, neglect, water damage or normal wear and tear.  Please note that we do not guarantee waterproofing on vintage or pre-owned timepieces. We therefore do not recommend submerging your timepiece in water or any liquid.