.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
US$150,000-200,000
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with silvered dial and hour markers in white gold in 1977 and its subsuquent sale on 9 August 1978.
The white gold reference 3448, a paragon of understated sophistication, is one of the few vintage watches combining with the greatest of ease the charm of past generation watchmaking and the true pleasure of wearing a contemporary self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch. Its architectural design, great readability and discreet appearance make it an ideal companion, be it for formal or casual occasions. It is therefore by no surprise that it is one of the most coveted collector's wristwatches and considered one of Patek Philippe's ultimate complications.
The specimen here displays a sharp case with clean lines, paired with substantial and well defined faceted lugs, witnessing the respectful treatment it has been given over the years. The hallmark to the case back is as crisp as the connoisseur would hope for.
This "icy beauty" is blessed with an appealing and uniform cream colour dial and has not been subject to cosmetic enhancement, still displaying naturally oxidized gold numerals.
Reference 3448
Reference 3448, introduced into the market in 1962, was at the time the first automatic 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.
Reference 3448 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 288
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with silvered dial and hour markers in white gold in 1977 and its subsuquent sale on 9 August 1978.
The white gold reference 3448, a paragon of understated sophistication, is one of the few vintage watches combining with the greatest of ease the charm of past generation watchmaking and the true pleasure of wearing a contemporary self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch. Its architectural design, great readability and discreet appearance make it an ideal companion, be it for formal or casual occasions. It is therefore by no surprise that it is one of the most coveted collector's wristwatches and considered one of Patek Philippe's ultimate complications.
The specimen here displays a sharp case with clean lines, paired with substantial and well defined faceted lugs, witnessing the respectful treatment it has been given over the years. The hallmark to the case back is as crisp as the connoisseur would hope for.
This "icy beauty" is blessed with an appealing and uniform cream colour dial and has not been subject to cosmetic enhancement, still displaying naturally oxidized gold numerals.
Reference 3448
Reference 3448, introduced into the market in 1962, was at the time the first automatic 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.
Reference 3448 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 288