Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1961 Reference No: 3418 Movement No: 730'233 Case No: 2'601'593 Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 27AM400, 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Alligator Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle signed PPCo Dimensions: 34mm. Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by a pouch and an Extract from the Archives confirming year of production of the present watch in 1961 and its subsequent sale on May 19, 1961
Catalogue Essay
Production of reference 3418 started in 1958, the exact same year as the launch of the anti-magnetic caliber 12-400. The need for anti-magnetic wristwatches really started in the mid-1950s, with brands such as Rolex being commissioned by the CERN to produce a watch for their scientists. The trend was soon followed by other renowned Swiss brands such as Patek Philippe wishing to offer their clients an accurate timepiece that would resist strong magnetic fields. From 1960, reference 3418 was available with an anti-magnetic upgraded caliber 27AM400 like on the present watch. The specificity of this watch is the ingenious convertible three-body case system that would allow the wearer to change bracelets easily giving this watch either a sporty look with a stainless steel bracelet or a more black tie appearance on an alligator strap. The present watch comes from the original owner who has taken particular care of it. It remains in very good and original condition.
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.