Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1969 Reference No: 3445 Movement No: 1’117’029 Case No: 323’849 Material: Platinum Calibre: Automatic, 27-460M Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18k white gold buckle signed PPC Signed:Case, dial and movement signed Accessories:Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin, leather wallet and Extract from the Archives confirming the date of manufacture in 1969 and its subsequent sale on January 19th, 1987.
Catalogue Essay
The present watch is an outstanding example with razor sharp edges and exactly how the watch left the factory. The dial is clean and fitted with the sought after pearls as minute markers. With the presence of the original certificate this platinum automatic wristwatch is truly exceptional and for the lovers of new old stock watches this specimen is a must. Only a handful of examples are known of the reference 3445 cased in platinum which is more commonly found in yellow or white gold examples. The reference was first introduced in 1961 and remained in production for the following 20 years when it was discontinued in 1981.
Since 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.