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Lot Essay
ANDY WARHOL'S REF. 3448
Like Andy Warhol himself, this superb second series Patek Philippe reference 3448 has become a legend. Not only is it a very rare and highly desirable vintage wristwatch in its own right, but it also has the distinction of once being the personal property of one of the most famous and enduring artists of the 20th century. This wonderfully preserved yellow gold reference 3448 is undoubtedly a world-famous wristwatch. With its magical Andy Warhol provenance, it is elevated to the very top tier in the pantheon of vintage Patek Philippe. Christie’s New York is therefore thrilled to now present this star of Andy Warhol’s watch collection to international collectors, after almost a decade in a highly important private collection.
An inveterate collector, Warhol amassed a huge collection of Objects and artworks of all kinds, known to his friends as ‘Andy’s stuff’. The collection was sold after his death in a mammoth 10-day auction held by Sotheby’s New York between 23 April and 3 May 1988. A further sale of Warhol’s jewelry and watches, including the present ref. 3448, the most expensive in the auction, was held on 4th December 1988.
Today's collectors value individualism and exclusivity, even in the rarefied world of complicated Patek Philippe masterpieces. The reference 3448 is one of the most sought after of all Patek Philippe’s vintage complicated wristwatches, its minimal good looks and large size is perfectly suited for today’s most discerning collectors. The present watch, with its Andy Warhol provenance is one of the most individual and exclusive specimens of the great classic reference 3448 to be offered at auction. Moreover, it is in superb overall condition, featuring an extremely attractive and well preserved dial with perfectly clear markers and signatures. As a last series dial, it displays the ‘Aprior’ mark on either side of the word ‘Swiss’ at 6 o’clock and the minute divisions are painted batons, perfectly complementing the applied gold baton hour markers. The dial was perfectly cleaned and restored by Patek Philippe in the mid-1980s yet preserves the silky finish that is a feature of the very best dials made by Stern Frères, called ‘satiné opalin’. The 18K gold case is in original and very crisp condition, evidently little used, it displays clearly legible hallmarks and sharp, well-defined edges.
This reference 3448 offers collectors truly a rare opportunity to acquire an already serious vintage complicated Patek Philippe further imbued with the inestimable cachet of once belonging to Andy Warhol, undoubtedly a magnificent addition to any watch collection.
We are grateful to Eric and Gabriel Tortella for their assistance and study in researching this watch.
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
The American artist is one of the most recognizable figures of the 20th century and is perhaps even more famous today than during his lifetime.
One of the leading figures in the art movement known as ‘Pop Art’, Warhol’s work combined artistic expression with celebrity culture and advertising of the 1960s. Some of his best known works include the silkscreen paintings ‘Campbell's Soup Cans’ (1962), ‘Marilyn’ (1962) and ‘Reigning Queens’ (1985). Warhol’s New York studio, The Factory, became a well-known gathering place that brought together intellectuals, drag queens, Bohemian street people and Hollywood celebrities.
He surrounded himself with an assortment of personalities known as the ‘Warhol superstars’ and is credited with coining the expression "15 minutes of fame." He authored several books, including: ‘The Philosophy of Andy Warhol’ and ‘Popism: The Warhol Sixties’. Many of his creations are very collectible and highly valuable. His works include some of the most expensive paintings ever sold. In 2013, a 1963 serigraph titled Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster) sold for $105 million. In 2022, Shot Sage Blue Marilyn (1964) sold for $195 million, which is the most expensive work of art sold at auction by an American artist.
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, around 450 in yellow gold cases, 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:
-enameled 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 1977
-printed, not enameled small baton minute divisions: after 1977
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.
Like Andy Warhol himself, this superb second series Patek Philippe reference 3448 has become a legend. Not only is it a very rare and highly desirable vintage wristwatch in its own right, but it also has the distinction of once being the personal property of one of the most famous and enduring artists of the 20th century. This wonderfully preserved yellow gold reference 3448 is undoubtedly a world-famous wristwatch. With its magical Andy Warhol provenance, it is elevated to the very top tier in the pantheon of vintage Patek Philippe. Christie’s New York is therefore thrilled to now present this star of Andy Warhol’s watch collection to international collectors, after almost a decade in a highly important private collection.
An inveterate collector, Warhol amassed a huge collection of Objects and artworks of all kinds, known to his friends as ‘Andy’s stuff’. The collection was sold after his death in a mammoth 10-day auction held by Sotheby’s New York between 23 April and 3 May 1988. A further sale of Warhol’s jewelry and watches, including the present ref. 3448, the most expensive in the auction, was held on 4th December 1988.
Today's collectors value individualism and exclusivity, even in the rarefied world of complicated Patek Philippe masterpieces. The reference 3448 is one of the most sought after of all Patek Philippe’s vintage complicated wristwatches, its minimal good looks and large size is perfectly suited for today’s most discerning collectors. The present watch, with its Andy Warhol provenance is one of the most individual and exclusive specimens of the great classic reference 3448 to be offered at auction. Moreover, it is in superb overall condition, featuring an extremely attractive and well preserved dial with perfectly clear markers and signatures. As a last series dial, it displays the ‘Aprior’ mark on either side of the word ‘Swiss’ at 6 o’clock and the minute divisions are painted batons, perfectly complementing the applied gold baton hour markers. The dial was perfectly cleaned and restored by Patek Philippe in the mid-1980s yet preserves the silky finish that is a feature of the very best dials made by Stern Frères, called ‘satiné opalin’. The 18K gold case is in original and very crisp condition, evidently little used, it displays clearly legible hallmarks and sharp, well-defined edges.
This reference 3448 offers collectors truly a rare opportunity to acquire an already serious vintage complicated Patek Philippe further imbued with the inestimable cachet of once belonging to Andy Warhol, undoubtedly a magnificent addition to any watch collection.
We are grateful to Eric and Gabriel Tortella for their assistance and study in researching this watch.
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
The American artist is one of the most recognizable figures of the 20th century and is perhaps even more famous today than during his lifetime.
One of the leading figures in the art movement known as ‘Pop Art’, Warhol’s work combined artistic expression with celebrity culture and advertising of the 1960s. Some of his best known works include the silkscreen paintings ‘Campbell's Soup Cans’ (1962), ‘Marilyn’ (1962) and ‘Reigning Queens’ (1985). Warhol’s New York studio, The Factory, became a well-known gathering place that brought together intellectuals, drag queens, Bohemian street people and Hollywood celebrities.
He surrounded himself with an assortment of personalities known as the ‘Warhol superstars’ and is credited with coining the expression "15 minutes of fame." He authored several books, including: ‘The Philosophy of Andy Warhol’ and ‘Popism: The Warhol Sixties’. Many of his creations are very collectible and highly valuable. His works include some of the most expensive paintings ever sold. In 2013, a 1963 serigraph titled Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster) sold for $105 million. In 2022, Shot Sage Blue Marilyn (1964) sold for $195 million, which is the most expensive work of art sold at auction by an American artist.
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, around 450 in yellow gold cases, 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:
-enameled 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 1977
-printed, not enameled small baton minute divisions: after 1977
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.