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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe fitted presentation box. Furthermore delivered with Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1971, and its subsequent sale on December 10h, 1971
The present white gold 3448 is in outstanding condition. The case is absolutely unpolished. It allows us to scholarly admire its construction down to the smallest and most obscure detail, such as the beveling of the lugs. At first impression it would seem that the outer sides of the lugs of reference 3448 present only one sharp edge at their top, and one at the bottom. It is little known, because polishing erased this detail in most surviving examples, that actually the bottom edge of the outer side of the lugs presents a beveling, which is perfectly preserved in this specimen. Another similar detail consists in the small steps at the top and bottom of the blank bezel, which are both absolutely pristine in this case. The dial as well is remarkable: in unspoiled condition, without the slightest trace of either intervention or degradation, it is one of the rarest dial versions for this model. Indeed, reference 3448 can be found with four kinds of dial:
-with enameled small baton minute divisions (1962 to 1965);
-with beady minute divisions and small date ring ('65 to '72);
-with beady minute divisions and large date ring ('71 to '78);
-with printed (not enameled) small baton minute divisions after 1978.
It is little known that only for a very short time around 1971 the third series dials, with beady divisions and large date ring, were also available with reversed date ring (the numerals in the lower half upside down). The present watch, indeed manufactured in 1971, features this highly exclusive dial version. As a matter of fact, in-depth research allowed for the identification from the market of roughly fifty white gold 3448 since the launch of the reference. Out of these, only four bear the same dial as this watch.
The present timepiece was sold at auction in Geneva in 1993. The fact that the owner jealously safeguarded it for nearly a quarter of a century is further testament to its incredible condition and appeal.
Launched in 1962, reference 3448 was the first automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch serially produced by any manufacturer. It was made primarily in yellow gold in very few numbers: estimates put the total production, all case metals, at around 500 units. A minority was cased in white gold (around 150 pieces), and one example in pink gold and one in platinum are known from the market.
This model is the perfect embodiment of a very peculiar period in the evolution of watchmaking design. Wristwatches had moved from the flamboyant cases and multi-tone sector dials of the 1920s and 1930s, to the military-flavored creations of the 1940s, with telemetre and tachymetre railroad scales. With the 1950s and 60s a new trend takes shape: the technological advances of the time inspired, in all fields of design, futuristic shapes and cleaner looks. This watch perfectly epitomizes such trend: the dial is clean to the extreme, a remarkable feat of design considered that, after all, this is still a perpetual calendar with moon phases and as such the amount of information that the dial has to report is quite abundant. The case is a triumph of clean looks and sharp edges: the circular polished case with flat satin-finished band and generous sloped blank bezel looks decades away from the construction of previous models, such as reference 2497, with fluted carved lugs, concave bezel and convex band. The looks of reference 3448 are so futuristic that Italian collectors nicknamed this model "Disco Volante" (Flying Saucer).
The present white gold 3448 is in outstanding condition. The case is absolutely unpolished. It allows us to scholarly admire its construction down to the smallest and most obscure detail, such as the beveling of the lugs. At first impression it would seem that the outer sides of the lugs of reference 3448 present only one sharp edge at their top, and one at the bottom. It is little known, because polishing erased this detail in most surviving examples, that actually the bottom edge of the outer side of the lugs presents a beveling, which is perfectly preserved in this specimen. Another similar detail consists in the small steps at the top and bottom of the blank bezel, which are both absolutely pristine in this case. The dial as well is remarkable: in unspoiled condition, without the slightest trace of either intervention or degradation, it is one of the rarest dial versions for this model. Indeed, reference 3448 can be found with four kinds of dial:
-with enameled small baton minute divisions (1962 to 1965);
-with beady minute divisions and small date ring ('65 to '72);
-with beady minute divisions and large date ring ('71 to '78);
-with printed (not enameled) small baton minute divisions after 1978.
It is little known that only for a very short time around 1971 the third series dials, with beady divisions and large date ring, were also available with reversed date ring (the numerals in the lower half upside down). The present watch, indeed manufactured in 1971, features this highly exclusive dial version. As a matter of fact, in-depth research allowed for the identification from the market of roughly fifty white gold 3448 since the launch of the reference. Out of these, only four bear the same dial as this watch.
The present timepiece was sold at auction in Geneva in 1993. The fact that the owner jealously safeguarded it for nearly a quarter of a century is further testament to its incredible condition and appeal.
Launched in 1962, reference 3448 was the first automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch serially produced by any manufacturer. It was made primarily in yellow gold in very few numbers: estimates put the total production, all case metals, at around 500 units. A minority was cased in white gold (around 150 pieces), and one example in pink gold and one in platinum are known from the market.
This model is the perfect embodiment of a very peculiar period in the evolution of watchmaking design. Wristwatches had moved from the flamboyant cases and multi-tone sector dials of the 1920s and 1930s, to the military-flavored creations of the 1940s, with telemetre and tachymetre railroad scales. With the 1950s and 60s a new trend takes shape: the technological advances of the time inspired, in all fields of design, futuristic shapes and cleaner looks. This watch perfectly epitomizes such trend: the dial is clean to the extreme, a remarkable feat of design considered that, after all, this is still a perpetual calendar with moon phases and as such the amount of information that the dial has to report is quite abundant. The case is a triumph of clean looks and sharp edges: the circular polished case with flat satin-finished band and generous sloped blank bezel looks decades away from the construction of previous models, such as reference 2497, with fluted carved lugs, concave bezel and convex band. The looks of reference 3448 are so futuristic that Italian collectors nicknamed this model "Disco Volante" (Flying Saucer).