With the advent of the 1960s, taste in watches shifted and we see that the 1960s to the 1980s are dominated - in stark contrast with the production of the first half of the century - by timepieces with clean dials and elaborate cases defined by sharp edges and corners, surprising - sometimes “over-the-top” - case architectures and at times intricate metalworks (bas-relief, engravings, guilloché patterns etc.).
Launched in 1981, ref. 3450 is the successor to ref. 3448, Patek Philippe's very first automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch. While aesthetically similar to its ancestor, it most notably features a leap year indication on the dial. In addition, its caseback is slightly smaller and is fitted with a "lip", enabling it to be easily removed. It is the first serially made Patek Philippe wristwatch featuring leap year indication allowing for an enormously simplified calendar setting procedure: earlier models required a potentially very lengthy synchronization procedure to manually identify the leap year and then advance to the current year in the cycle.
The case design of the model dates back to the 1960s (ref. 3448 was launched in 1962) and it is an ode to timelessly futuristic design: the dial is airy and clean and the aesthetic impact of the watch is entrusted to the sculpted case defined by the straight, angular lugs, the large polished sloped bezel (thus its Italian nickname “Padellone” - meaning “big pan”) and the satin-finished band.
Technically, the model represents one of the unchallenged pinnacles of watchmaking. It is powered by cal. 27-460Q, the perpetual (Q: Quantième) upgrade of calibre 27-460 which is considered one of the best - if not the best - automatic movement of all times. It represents the final (and surprisingly not so well known) evolution of the famous cal. 12-600, the first Patek Philippe automatic movement. As Rolex held the patent for the automatic rotor, Patek Philippe patiently waited for its expiration and in the meanwhile put their R&D department to work, for decades, on an automatic movement. The resulting cal. 12-600 was already superb, but Patek Philippe strove to make it even better. When the company deemed to have gotten as close to perfection as possible, they renamed cal. 12-600 as cal. 27-460. Thus, this is the most complex (perpetual calendar) variation of the final evolution of what is considered the most advanced vintage (and, according to some, of all times) automatic movement.
Also due to its short run (1981 - 1985) Patek Philippe produced very limited quantities of reference 3450, typically casing the model in yellow gold. To date, scholars estimate that Patek Philippe produced only 237 examples in total, making it one of the rarest Patek Philippe perpetual calendar models ever produced in series.
The present models distinguishes itself not only for its remarkable condition, but most notably for the presence of its original Certificate, greatly amplifying its collectability.
