.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
When introduced in 1962 the reference 3448 was the first wristwatch ever to combine a perpetual calendar and moon phase with automatic winding, representing a revolution in the watch making world. But for all of its complexity it did not feature a leap year indicator, something that it now accepted as a given today was still a challenging mechanical addition.
While there were a few incredibly rare instance of reference 3448 with leap year indicator, including a white gold example, movement number 1’119’580 sold by Christie’s in Geneva, May 2013 for 1,623,750 CHF, it was not until the arrival of reference 3450 in 1981 that this became a standard product item.
While the first series of reference 3450 featured a distinctive red dot filling the porthole in the dial between the batons at 3 and 4 o’clock, later versions such as the one offered here today have Roman numerals throughout. A total of 244 examples of reference 3450 were made, the majority in yellow gold cases, only two in white gold are known to date, before production of both reference 3448 and 3450 came to an end in 1985 with the introduction of the reference 3940.
While a number of examples of reference 3450 have come to market over the years, this one is particularly rare due to the supple and attractive integral 18k gold bracelet confirmed by both the Certificat d’Origine and Extract from the Archives included with the watch. It is one of five known in this configuration, another of which currently resides in the Patek Philippe museum in Geneva. The watch is further enhanced by its honest condition with apparently unpolished case retaining all of its original finish and crisp hallmarks, but exhibiting the signs of a watch that has been worn and enjoyed over the years since it was originally retailed by Carlson Watch Company Limited of Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong on the 7th October 1985.
Another example of a reference 3450 with Roman leap year indicator is illustrated and described in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches - Volume II, p. 297, Inv. P-239.
While there were a few incredibly rare instance of reference 3448 with leap year indicator, including a white gold example, movement number 1’119’580 sold by Christie’s in Geneva, May 2013 for 1,623,750 CHF, it was not until the arrival of reference 3450 in 1981 that this became a standard product item.
While the first series of reference 3450 featured a distinctive red dot filling the porthole in the dial between the batons at 3 and 4 o’clock, later versions such as the one offered here today have Roman numerals throughout. A total of 244 examples of reference 3450 were made, the majority in yellow gold cases, only two in white gold are known to date, before production of both reference 3448 and 3450 came to an end in 1985 with the introduction of the reference 3940.
While a number of examples of reference 3450 have come to market over the years, this one is particularly rare due to the supple and attractive integral 18k gold bracelet confirmed by both the Certificat d’Origine and Extract from the Archives included with the watch. It is one of five known in this configuration, another of which currently resides in the Patek Philippe museum in Geneva. The watch is further enhanced by its honest condition with apparently unpolished case retaining all of its original finish and crisp hallmarks, but exhibiting the signs of a watch that has been worn and enjoyed over the years since it was originally retailed by Carlson Watch Company Limited of Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong on the 7th October 1985.
Another example of a reference 3450 with Roman leap year indicator is illustrated and described in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches - Volume II, p. 297, Inv. P-239.