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Lot Essay
According to the foremost scholars of Patek Philippe, the present watch ranks among the three best examples of the white gold reference 3448G known to exist.
Fantastically well-preserved, this early 3448 was completed in 1966. Only around 50 white gold examples are known publicly, of which around 25 specimens including the present watch are from the first series production.
With matching period Patek Philippe bracelet, this watch is a truly stellar prize for collectors of the best complicated classic vintage Patek Philippe from the ‘golden era’ of production.
STUDY OF REFERENCE 3448G
MOVEMENT NO. 1’119’045, CASE NO. 318’496
Dial
The impeccable solid gold dial was made by Stern Frères in 1964-1966. The all-important silky finish has been preserved, a feature of these early dials and of the very best dials made by Stern Frères, called ‘satiné opalin’ it is associated with several of Patek Philippe’s complicated references of the period. The engraved enamelled signature and date of the month subsidiary dial are still completely original and beautifully raised. Being an early dial, the inscriptions - signature, minutes scale, date ring and the two calendar discs - are engraved-enamelled and of smaller size than the later series. Only the SWISS inscription is black painted by transfer – exactly correct for this dial. The calendar window angles are sharp as expected and the three white gold hands are original hand-cut and finished and, of course, perfectly matching.
Case
The exceptionally well-preserved case was delivered in 1966, made by master casemaker Antoine Gerlach, it is constructed in three pieces in 18K white gold with snap-on bezel and back, the ‘PP’ crown also in white gold. The case retains full original proportions and angles, the central part is horizontally brushed and, on the side of the lugs, vertically brushed. The bezel, upper surface of the lugs and the sides of the case back are mirror polished. Collectors and connoisseurs will appreciate the sharpness of the angles of the lugs and the clearly visible hallmarks under two of the lugs. In all, it is very close to the original finishing, almost as fresh as the day it left the factory.
Movement
Made in 1964 and completed in 1965, calibre 27 460 Q (Q for Quantième), rhodiumed brass, based on a 27 460 Patek Philippe in-house movement, Gyromax balance, stamped twice with the Geneva Seal.
We are grateful to Eric Tortella for his assistance and study in researching this watch.
Reference 3448
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. Only around 130 were cased in white gold, 2 in platinum and 1 in pink gold are known to exist to date.
Reference 3448 was fitted with the celebrated caliber 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.
Reference 3448 was available with four different dial styles:
-enamelled small baton minute divisions from 1962 to circa 1965
-beady minute divisions and small date ring from 1965 to circa 1973
-beady minute divisions and large date ring: 1971 to circa 1978
-printed, not enamelled small baton minute divisions: after 1978
In 1981, reference 3450 was introduced into the market with the improved 27'460 QB (Quantime Bissextile) caliber. The model differs from its predecessor by the modified leap year indication, the eccentric small window to 4 o'clock.
With the launch of reference 3940 in 1985, production of both references 3448 and 3450 was discontinued.
Reference 3448 is illustrated in:
Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches - Volume II, p. 296.
The Blue Book 1, by Eric Tortella, 2018 edition, pp. 540 to 581.
Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 288.
Ore d'Oro by Jader Barracca, Giampiero Negretti and Franco Nencini, p. 45.
Fantastically well-preserved, this early 3448 was completed in 1966. Only around 50 white gold examples are known publicly, of which around 25 specimens including the present watch are from the first series production.
With matching period Patek Philippe bracelet, this watch is a truly stellar prize for collectors of the best complicated classic vintage Patek Philippe from the ‘golden era’ of production.
STUDY OF REFERENCE 3448G
MOVEMENT NO. 1’119’045, CASE NO. 318’496
Dial
The impeccable solid gold dial was made by Stern Frères in 1964-1966. The all-important silky finish has been preserved, a feature of these early dials and of the very best dials made by Stern Frères, called ‘satiné opalin’ it is associated with several of Patek Philippe’s complicated references of the period. The engraved enamelled signature and date of the month subsidiary dial are still completely original and beautifully raised. Being an early dial, the inscriptions - signature, minutes scale, date ring and the two calendar discs - are engraved-enamelled and of smaller size than the later series. Only the SWISS inscription is black painted by transfer – exactly correct for this dial. The calendar window angles are sharp as expected and the three white gold hands are original hand-cut and finished and, of course, perfectly matching.
Case
The exceptionally well-preserved case was delivered in 1966, made by master casemaker Antoine Gerlach, it is constructed in three pieces in 18K white gold with snap-on bezel and back, the ‘PP’ crown also in white gold. The case retains full original proportions and angles, the central part is horizontally brushed and, on the side of the lugs, vertically brushed. The bezel, upper surface of the lugs and the sides of the case back are mirror polished. Collectors and connoisseurs will appreciate the sharpness of the angles of the lugs and the clearly visible hallmarks under two of the lugs. In all, it is very close to the original finishing, almost as fresh as the day it left the factory.
Movement
Made in 1964 and completed in 1965, calibre 27 460 Q (Q for Quantième), rhodiumed brass, based on a 27 460 Patek Philippe in-house movement, Gyromax balance, stamped twice with the Geneva Seal.
We are grateful to Eric Tortella for his assistance and study in researching this watch.
Reference 3448
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. Only around 130 were cased in white gold, 2 in platinum and 1 in pink gold are known to exist to date.
Reference 3448 was fitted with the celebrated caliber 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.
Reference 3448 was available with four different dial styles:
-enamelled small baton minute divisions from 1962 to circa 1965
-beady minute divisions and small date ring from 1965 to circa 1973
-beady minute divisions and large date ring: 1971 to circa 1978
-printed, not enamelled small baton minute divisions: after 1978
In 1981, reference 3450 was introduced into the market with the improved 27'460 QB (Quantime Bissextile) caliber. The model differs from its predecessor by the modified leap year indication, the eccentric small window to 4 o'clock.
With the launch of reference 3940 in 1985, production of both references 3448 and 3450 was discontinued.
Reference 3448 is illustrated in:
Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches - Volume II, p. 296.
The Blue Book 1, by Eric Tortella, 2018 edition, pp. 540 to 581.
Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 288.
Ore d'Oro by Jader Barracca, Giampiero Negretti and Franco Nencini, p. 45.