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Lot Essay
Some of the most exciting and record breaking watches to appear in the market over the years can be found at the end of a twenty year production run of Patek Philippe’s perpetual calendar reference 3448, the present lot included.
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the production of the present lot in 1981 and sold on July 15th of the same year, cased in white gold with opalin-satine silver finish dial and raised hour markers, the watch features self-winding calibre 27-460Q, perpetual calendar, moon-phase and leap year mechanism. One of only two transitional reference 3448 the brand would manufacture with a leap year indicator, both of which were cased in white gold with a beautiful enamel “red dot” reserved for the leap year (other years of the cycle are indicated with Arabic numbers 1, 2, 3). These two watches mark a significant milestone for Patek Philippe in so far as they represent the first two perpetual calendar wrist watches with leap year indicator made by the brand and offered for sale.
A few years earlier in 1975, Henri and Philippe Stern modified a 3448 to include a leap year indicator inside the date ring for presentation to then Director of Patek Philippe, Mr. Alan Banbery. This unique piece was the very first perpetual calendar wristwatch manufactured by the brand with leap year indicator and is known today as the “Banbery Senza Luna” (without moon) due to the fact that the moon-phase was sacrificed for the leap year indicator. Mr. Banbery’s “ Senza Luna” was sold most recently at auction in 2021 by Christie’s Hong Kong for HKD29,050,000 (in excess of CHF 3,5 million) and resides in one of the world’s most important collections.
The second wristwatch to include a leap year indicator would be manufactured in 1981 on special request and designed for Philippe Stern, then President and CEO of Patek Philippe. This unique watch, reference 3563, resolved the dilemma of the Banbery “Senza Luna” by keeping the moon-phase and adding an aperture for the leap year indicator. This unique watch is currently owned by Patek Philippe and is on display at the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva.
The third wristwatch to include a leap year indicator was clearly an evolution of the above referenced watches in so far as it was a 3448 and included both the moon-phase as well as an aperture on the dial for the leap year. It just so happens that it was also the very first wristwatch with leap year indicator made by Patek Philippe which was intended for sale. This watch, reference 3448 in white gold, was originally manufactured and sold on a strap in 1981 (movement 1’119’580, case 332’620). In 2013 the watch was sold at auction by Christie’s Geneva in excess of CHF 1.6 million, and like Mr. Banbery’s “Senza Luna”, the watch currently resides in one of the world’s most important collections.
The present lot is the fourth wristwatch by Patek Philippe to include a leap year indicator and only the second intended for sale. As mentioned above, the watch was cased in white gold features a wonderfully preserved opalin-satine silver finish dial, a beautiful enamel “red dot” leap year disc as well as an extraordinary integrated handmade chain bracelet.
Manufactured and sold in 1981 bearing movement number 1’119’581 and case number 332’621, it follows consecutively in both movement and case number the white gold “red dot” referenced above and sold by Christie’s in 2013. One of only two existing reference 3448 with leap year aperture made in white gold with “red dot”, this watch is an important piece of Patek Philippe history as well as a truly breathtaking watch.
Originally sold on a leather strap in 1981, this present watch was converted at an early stage and fitted with a Patek Philippe integrated and hand-made chain bracelet. Following its conversion, this 3448G, along with 5 other special reference 3448 (including the other white gold “red dot” and a “Senza Luna” among others), travelled throughout Europe with Patek Philippe on a tour to share the watches as well as the new leap year indication with important collectors and members of the community. An incredibly small selection of watches and an important moment for Patek Philippe, these watches made quite an impression on all who experienced them and many remember both white gold “red dot” watches vividly, one watch on a strap (movement 1’119’580, case 332’620) and the present watch fitted with an integrated bracelet (movement 1’119’581, case 332’621).
Though the present lot has been well known for nearly forty years, it has only been to auction a few times. First appearing in the market in 1989 at Hapsburg Feldman, and again in 1992 at Christie’s London, always with its integrated bracelet. In the early 2000’s an astute and well connected owner of the watch was able to acquire a white gold 3448 mid case with lugs, affording him the opportunity to enjoy the watch both on its integrated chain bracelet or on a strap. Included in the sale, the second mid case with lugs in white gold will offer the next custodian the same luxury.
With only two reference 3448 white gold perpetual calendar wristwatches with enamel “red dot” leap year indicator known to exist, the rarity and significance of this watch, notwithstanding the rarity and significance of the opportunity to acquire it, cannot be understated.
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the production of the present lot in 1981 and sold on July 15th of the same year, cased in white gold with opalin-satine silver finish dial and raised hour markers, the watch features self-winding calibre 27-460Q, perpetual calendar, moon-phase and leap year mechanism. One of only two transitional reference 3448 the brand would manufacture with a leap year indicator, both of which were cased in white gold with a beautiful enamel “red dot” reserved for the leap year (other years of the cycle are indicated with Arabic numbers 1, 2, 3). These two watches mark a significant milestone for Patek Philippe in so far as they represent the first two perpetual calendar wrist watches with leap year indicator made by the brand and offered for sale.
A few years earlier in 1975, Henri and Philippe Stern modified a 3448 to include a leap year indicator inside the date ring for presentation to then Director of Patek Philippe, Mr. Alan Banbery. This unique piece was the very first perpetual calendar wristwatch manufactured by the brand with leap year indicator and is known today as the “Banbery Senza Luna” (without moon) due to the fact that the moon-phase was sacrificed for the leap year indicator. Mr. Banbery’s “ Senza Luna” was sold most recently at auction in 2021 by Christie’s Hong Kong for HKD29,050,000 (in excess of CHF 3,5 million) and resides in one of the world’s most important collections.
The second wristwatch to include a leap year indicator would be manufactured in 1981 on special request and designed for Philippe Stern, then President and CEO of Patek Philippe. This unique watch, reference 3563, resolved the dilemma of the Banbery “Senza Luna” by keeping the moon-phase and adding an aperture for the leap year indicator. This unique watch is currently owned by Patek Philippe and is on display at the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva.
The third wristwatch to include a leap year indicator was clearly an evolution of the above referenced watches in so far as it was a 3448 and included both the moon-phase as well as an aperture on the dial for the leap year. It just so happens that it was also the very first wristwatch with leap year indicator made by Patek Philippe which was intended for sale. This watch, reference 3448 in white gold, was originally manufactured and sold on a strap in 1981 (movement 1’119’580, case 332’620). In 2013 the watch was sold at auction by Christie’s Geneva in excess of CHF 1.6 million, and like Mr. Banbery’s “Senza Luna”, the watch currently resides in one of the world’s most important collections.
The present lot is the fourth wristwatch by Patek Philippe to include a leap year indicator and only the second intended for sale. As mentioned above, the watch was cased in white gold features a wonderfully preserved opalin-satine silver finish dial, a beautiful enamel “red dot” leap year disc as well as an extraordinary integrated handmade chain bracelet.
Manufactured and sold in 1981 bearing movement number 1’119’581 and case number 332’621, it follows consecutively in both movement and case number the white gold “red dot” referenced above and sold by Christie’s in 2013. One of only two existing reference 3448 with leap year aperture made in white gold with “red dot”, this watch is an important piece of Patek Philippe history as well as a truly breathtaking watch.
Originally sold on a leather strap in 1981, this present watch was converted at an early stage and fitted with a Patek Philippe integrated and hand-made chain bracelet. Following its conversion, this 3448G, along with 5 other special reference 3448 (including the other white gold “red dot” and a “Senza Luna” among others), travelled throughout Europe with Patek Philippe on a tour to share the watches as well as the new leap year indication with important collectors and members of the community. An incredibly small selection of watches and an important moment for Patek Philippe, these watches made quite an impression on all who experienced them and many remember both white gold “red dot” watches vividly, one watch on a strap (movement 1’119’580, case 332’620) and the present watch fitted with an integrated bracelet (movement 1’119’581, case 332’621).
Though the present lot has been well known for nearly forty years, it has only been to auction a few times. First appearing in the market in 1989 at Hapsburg Feldman, and again in 1992 at Christie’s London, always with its integrated bracelet. In the early 2000’s an astute and well connected owner of the watch was able to acquire a white gold 3448 mid case with lugs, affording him the opportunity to enjoy the watch both on its integrated chain bracelet or on a strap. Included in the sale, the second mid case with lugs in white gold will offer the next custodian the same luxury.
With only two reference 3448 white gold perpetual calendar wristwatches with enamel “red dot” leap year indicator known to exist, the rarity and significance of this watch, notwithstanding the rarity and significance of the opportunity to acquire it, cannot be understated.