Patek Philippe
Retailed by Tiffany & Co.: 'Padellone', Reference 3448J | A yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases | Made in 1972
Auction Closed
May 10, 02:36 PM GMT
Estimate
200,000 - 400,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Dial: silvered
Calibre: cal. 27-460 Q automatic, 37 jewels
Movement number: 1'119'265
Case: 18k yellow gold, snap-on case back
Case number: 330'599
Closure: 18k yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle
Size: 37.5 mm diameter
Signed: case and movement, dial signed Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co.
Box: yes
Papers: no
Accessories: Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming date of sale on December 6, 1972 and presentation box with outer packaging
Please note the leather strap derived from endangered species is for display purposes only and is not sold with the watch. The watch will be shipped with a Sotheby’s branded calf leather strap.
Antiquorum, New York, 17 September 2009, Lot 130
Sotheby's, New York, 14 February 1994, Lot 464
Introduced in 1962, the Patek Philippe reference 3448 marked a major milestone in horology as the world’s first serially produced self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch. Replacing the earlier manually wound perpetual calendar references 1526 and 2497, it combined the classical calendar layout of its predecessors with a bold, modern design language that would define the model.
Nicknamed “Padellone” (“large frying pan” in Italian), the reference is celebrated for its oversized 37.5 mm case, remarkable for its time. Manufactured by Antoine Gerlach (Key no. 4), the sharply defined case features a wide sloping bezel and angular lugs, giving the watch a commanding wrist presence and a distinctly modern aesthetic that continues to resonate with contemporary tastes.
At its heart beats the automatic caliber 27-460Q (“Q” for Quantième), developed from Patek Philippe’s celebrated automatic caliber 12-600. Produced for nearly two decades until 1981, fewer than 600 examples of reference 3448 are believed to have been made across all metals, divided into four distinct series.
The present watch belongs to the third series, distinguished by pearl minute divisions, printed graphics, and the larger date ring. Interestingly, the lower half of the date ring is printed upside-down, a transitional configuration found only on very early third-series dials.
Further enhancing its desirability, the dial bears the coveted Tiffany & Co. signature, reflecting the historic partnership between Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co., which dates back to 1851.
Returning to the auction market after 17 years, the watch is preserved in excellent condition, displaying crisp dial graphics with the accent on the “E” of "GENEVE" and an attractive patina to the case. Such an opportunity arises but rarely, offering the discerning collector the chance to acquire not merely a timepiece, but a masterwork of horology united with one of the world’s most prestigious retailers.