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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin and Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with silvered dial, gold indexes and gold bracelet in 1983 and its subsequent sale on 27 September 1983. Furthermore delivered with Patek Philippe transportation light box.
The present watch is one of only four examples of the celebrated reference 3450 with an integral bracelet and consequently no lugs to appear in public to date. It is however the only one with this particular bracelet texture and this exact reference number. The watch furthermore impresses by its excellent, close to mint overall condition. Examples in such fantastic condition are rare finds in today's collecting world. Its rarity is further enhanced by the presence of the Patek Philippe original certificate, a treasure itself for the discerning collector.
In 1981, reference 3450 was introduced into the market and differs from its predecessor reference 3448 by the leap year indication, the eccentric small window at 4 o'clock. The first series was made with a simple red disk and Arabic numerals, the second with Roman I, II, III and IIII leap year indication, such as the present example.
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.
Production of both reference 3448 and 3450 was discontinued in 1985 when reference 3940 was launched.
Reference 3448 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 288 and in Ore d'Oro by Jader Barracca, Giampiero Negretti and Franco Nencini, p. 45.
The present watch is one of only four examples of the celebrated reference 3450 with an integral bracelet and consequently no lugs to appear in public to date. It is however the only one with this particular bracelet texture and this exact reference number. The watch furthermore impresses by its excellent, close to mint overall condition. Examples in such fantastic condition are rare finds in today's collecting world. Its rarity is further enhanced by the presence of the Patek Philippe original certificate, a treasure itself for the discerning collector.
In 1981, reference 3450 was introduced into the market and differs from its predecessor reference 3448 by the leap year indication, the eccentric small window at 4 o'clock. The first series was made with a simple red disk and Arabic numerals, the second with Roman I, II, III and IIII leap year indication, such as the present example.
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.
Production of both reference 3448 and 3450 was discontinued in 1985 when reference 3940 was launched.
Reference 3448 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 288 and in Ore d'Oro by Jader Barracca, Giampiero Negretti and Franco Nencini, p. 45.