1070Σ
Patek Philippe
Ref. 3448 Fourth Series
“Padellone”
An extremely well-preserved, possibly unpolished, rare and attractive yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases
- Estimate
- HK$1,100,000 - 2,200,000€122,000 - 243,000$141,000 - 282,000
HK$2,286,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Patek Philippe
- Year
- 1974
- Reference No
- 3448 Fourth Series
- Movement No
- 1’119’337
- Case No
- 331’494
- Model Name
- “Padellone”
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 27-460 Q, 37 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Crocodile
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe pin buckle
- Dimensions
- 37.5mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
- Accessories
- Delivered with two Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming its date of manufacture of the present timepiece in 1974 and its subsequent date of sale on 19th April 1974.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Introduced in 1962, the ref. 3448 was the only self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch on the market for the following 16 years. Its production spanned approximately 23 years, with an estimated total of only 586 examples produced across all metals and four series.
The four series of ref. 3448 can be determined as such:
- The first series features small calendar ring, indexes closer to the center of the dial and engraved/enameled minute divisions.
- The second series introduces beady minute divisions.
- The third series maintains the beady divisions but introduces the large numerals for the date rings and indexes closer to the outer edge of the dial.
- The fourth series - exemplified by the present timepiece - features printed minute divisions.
The present example, from the fourth series, was manufactured in 1974 and is encased in classic 18K yellow gold. It is extraordinarily well-preserved and, in our opinion, is most likely unpolished, featuring very crisp facets and hallmark behind the lug.
To the best of our knowledge, this example is fresh to the auction market, and Phillips has previously sold two very similar examples. One, bearing the movement number 1'119'339, was featured in "The Geneva Watch Auction: NINE" in May 2019. Another, numbered 1’119’332, was sold at The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XI in November 2020. Notably, all these examples were manufactured from the same batch, featuring identical dial configurations.
As condition always comes first in the realm of vintage watch collecting, finding another ref. 3448 in a condition like the present watch could entail an interminable wait in the market, which makes this an opportunity not to be missed to acquire a fantastic perpetual calendar example.
The four series of ref. 3448 can be determined as such:
- The first series features small calendar ring, indexes closer to the center of the dial and engraved/enameled minute divisions.
- The second series introduces beady minute divisions.
- The third series maintains the beady divisions but introduces the large numerals for the date rings and indexes closer to the outer edge of the dial.
- The fourth series - exemplified by the present timepiece - features printed minute divisions.
The present example, from the fourth series, was manufactured in 1974 and is encased in classic 18K yellow gold. It is extraordinarily well-preserved and, in our opinion, is most likely unpolished, featuring very crisp facets and hallmark behind the lug.
To the best of our knowledge, this example is fresh to the auction market, and Phillips has previously sold two very similar examples. One, bearing the movement number 1'119'339, was featured in "The Geneva Watch Auction: NINE" in May 2019. Another, numbered 1’119’332, was sold at The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XI in November 2020. Notably, all these examples were manufactured from the same batch, featuring identical dial configurations.
As condition always comes first in the realm of vintage watch collecting, finding another ref. 3448 in a condition like the present watch could entail an interminable wait in the market, which makes this an opportunity not to be missed to acquire a fantastic perpetual calendar example.
Patek Philippe
Swiss | 1839Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.
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