Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with raised gold hour markers in 1978 and its subsequent sale on 10 November 1978.
In today's world where ever so often even the complicated masterpieces become accessible, individualism is paramount. Offered for the first time in public, this possibly unique reference 3448 by the eminent manufacturer Patek Philippe is a gem unknown even to the most passionate collector.
The only reference 3448 known to date fitted with such a blue dial was certainly made upon special request by a style conscious passionate of horology. The metallic blue colour, an epitome of Patek Philippe's 1970s design language, is beautifully harmonizing with the white printing of signature and date ring and the gold numerals, hands and case. The result is a striking look - to some classic elegance, to others a modern extravaganza.
Another noteworthy feature is the sapphire crystal which was only available to the last generation of reference 3448 as of the late 1970s.
Appealing not only with its looks and the excellent overall condition but also thanks to its sophisticated calibre 27-460 movement, the perpetual calendar and moon phases, this trophy must be considered one of the most desirable collector's wristwatches to appear in public in recent years.
For an example of a reference 3448 in yellow gold with regular dial see lot 247 in this auction.
Reference 3448, introduced into the market in 1962, was at the time the first self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch. According to literature, a total of 586 examples were made, the majority in yellow gold cases. Few watches have been cased in white gold and only two examples in platinum are known to date.
Reference 3448 was fitted with the celebrated calibre 27-460, amongst the most sophisticated and lavish automatic movements ever made. It was later upgraded with Patek Philippe's patented perpetual mechanism fitted on the movement plate underneath the dial and renamed 27-460 Q. In 1981, reference 3450 was introduced into the market with the improved 27'460 QB (Quantième Bissextile) calibre. The model differs from its predecessor by the modified leap year indication, the eccentric small window to 4 o'clock. The first series was made with a simple red disk and Arabic numerals, the second with Roman I, II, III and IIII leap year indication.
A total of 244 examples of reference 3450 were made, the majority in yellow gold cases, only two in white gold are known to date.
Production of both reference 3448 and 3450 was discontinued in 1985 when reference 3940 (see lots 17 and 246 in this auction) was launched.
Reference 3448 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 288 and in Ore d'Oro by Jader Barracca, Giampiero Negretti and Franco Nencini, p. 45.
In today's world where ever so often even the complicated masterpieces become accessible, individualism is paramount. Offered for the first time in public, this possibly unique reference 3448 by the eminent manufacturer Patek Philippe is a gem unknown even to the most passionate collector.
The only reference 3448 known to date fitted with such a blue dial was certainly made upon special request by a style conscious passionate of horology. The metallic blue colour, an epitome of Patek Philippe's 1970s design language, is beautifully harmonizing with the white printing of signature and date ring and the gold numerals, hands and case. The result is a striking look - to some classic elegance, to others a modern extravaganza.
Another noteworthy feature is the sapphire crystal which was only available to the last generation of reference 3448 as of the late 1970s.
Appealing not only with its looks and the excellent overall condition but also thanks to its sophisticated calibre 27-460 movement, the perpetual calendar and moon phases, this trophy must be considered one of the most desirable collector's wristwatches to appear in public in recent years.
For an example of a reference 3448 in yellow gold with regular dial see lot 247 in this auction.
Reference 3448, introduced into the market in 1962, was at the time the first self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch. According to literature, a total of 586 examples were made, the majority in yellow gold cases. Few watches have been cased in white gold and only two examples in platinum are known to date.
Reference 3448 was fitted with the celebrated calibre 27-460, amongst the most sophisticated and lavish automatic movements ever made. It was later upgraded with Patek Philippe's patented perpetual mechanism fitted on the movement plate underneath the dial and renamed 27-460 Q. In 1981, reference 3450 was introduced into the market with the improved 27'460 QB (Quantième Bissextile) calibre. The model differs from its predecessor by the modified leap year indication, the eccentric small window to 4 o'clock. The first series was made with a simple red disk and Arabic numerals, the second with Roman I, II, III and IIII leap year indication.
A total of 244 examples of reference 3450 were made, the majority in yellow gold cases, only two in white gold are known to date.
Production of both reference 3448 and 3450 was discontinued in 1985 when reference 3940 (see lots 17 and 246 in this auction) was launched.
Reference 3448 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 288 and in Ore d'Oro by Jader Barracca, Giampiero Negretti and Franco Nencini, p. 45.