Patek Philippe

18k, damascened nickel lever movement (cal.27-460 Q), stamped twice with the seal of Geneva, 37 jewels, free-sprung gyromax balance, adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, 18k gold engine turned rotor engraved with the Calatrava cross, silvered dial, slim applied baton numerals, apertures for day, month and moon-phases, subsidiary dial for date, circular case with polished chamfered bezel, satin finished sides, sunken PP embossed crown, faceted lugs, case, dial and movement signed, with PP embossed buckle, accompanied by Patek Philippe presentation case and Extract from the Archives.

EXTRACT FROM THE ARCHIVES

The accompanying Extract from the Patek Philippe Archives confirms that this wristwatch was manufactured in 1962 and sold on 10th April, 1964.

PATEK PHILIPPE, NO.1.119.001, REF.3448

Production of reference 3448 began in 1962 and ceased in 1981. As the successor to the 2497 and 2438-1, the 3448, with its more angular design, represented a departure from the classic rounded cases and lugs of previous complication references. This was a reflection of the change in wristwatch design more generally, which was altering during the 1960s and 1970s. The 3448 was not only the first automatic perpetual calendar made in series by Patek Philippe, but the first by any company. The 3448 forms a bridge between the vintage perpetual calendar wristwatches and the more modern examples that followed it.

The earliest examples of the reference have a number of particularities that differentiate them from later 3448 wristwatches. The most visible of these differences are in the design of the dial, which appears to have changed quite quickly from its form on the present wristwatch to that of the later standard production.

Not all of the early reference 3448 wristwatches retained their original dials as some were replaced for the updated versions during servicing. It should be noted that the present wristwatch is currently the only one known to have retained this style of dial, making it an important and exceptionally rare example of the reference.

It is interesting to compare the present watch's dial to that of the very famous 3449 which was made in only 3 examples in 1961. When one sees the dials together, it is noticeable that they are almost identical. Both have the full 60-minute graduations in black enamel with the batons below. The three case numbers of the 3449 wristwatches are 311.261, 262 and 263. The present wristwatch's case number is 311.094, so one can see that they were manufactured at a very similar stage to one another.

Further differences between the present watch and the standard ref.3448, include the crown and rotor. The crown of the current lot is embossed PP for Patek Philippe and matches the unusual PP embossed buckle. It is also interesting to note that the rotor, which bears the Patek Philippe calatrava cross, does not have the engraved signature found on later examples.