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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with white gold bracelet in 1966 and its subsequent sale on April 14 of the same year. Further accompanied by a Patek Philippe black leather presentation box and outer packaging.
To the best of our knowledge, this watch has never before been offered in public.
Patek Philippe produced the reference 3448 from 1962 until approximately 1982. The present watch with movement number 1119039 is the earliest known white gold example to come to public auction. The Patek Philippe extract confirms production of the current watch in 1966 and its sale on April 14th of the same year. This is interesting to note as it has been assumed by collectors that the white gold version did not come to market until the late 1960s.
The reference 3448 was the first self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch. It is thought only 586 examples were made with the majority in yellow gold. The reference 3448 was fitted with the celebrated caliber 27-460, considered one of the most sophisticated automatic movements produced. 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 Patek Philippe introduced the reference 3450 with the improved 27'460 QB caliber. The model differs from the 3448 by the modified leap year indication, the eccentric small window at 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.
In 1985 Patek Philippe introduced the reference 3940 and both reference 3448 and 3450 were discontinued.
Reference 3448 is illustrated in Patek Philippe by M. Huber and A. Banberry, 1998, pp. 288-290.
To the best of our knowledge, this watch has never before been offered in public.
Patek Philippe produced the reference 3448 from 1962 until approximately 1982. The present watch with movement number 1119039 is the earliest known white gold example to come to public auction. The Patek Philippe extract confirms production of the current watch in 1966 and its sale on April 14th of the same year. This is interesting to note as it has been assumed by collectors that the white gold version did not come to market until the late 1960s.
The reference 3448 was the first self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch. It is thought only 586 examples were made with the majority in yellow gold. The reference 3448 was fitted with the celebrated caliber 27-460, considered one of the most sophisticated automatic movements produced. 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 Patek Philippe introduced the reference 3450 with the improved 27'460 QB caliber. The model differs from the 3448 by the modified leap year indication, the eccentric small window at 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.
In 1985 Patek Philippe introduced the reference 3940 and both reference 3448 and 3450 were discontinued.
Reference 3448 is illustrated in Patek Philippe by M. Huber and A. Banberry, 1998, pp. 288-290.