Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1970 Reference No: 3445 Movement No: 1'117'660 Case No: 328'796 Model Name: Monodate Material: 18K white gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 27-460M, 37 jewels, stamped twice with the Geneva Seal Bracelet/Strap: Leather strap Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Patek Philippe pin buckle Dimensions: 35mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1970 and its subsequent sale on September 9, 1970.
Catalogue Essay
Reference 3445 was launched in 1961 and remained in production for about 20 years. Produced in the three gold colors and in platinum, it is the first Patek Philippe automatic timepiece to feature the simple date complication. The case design of the model evolved over time, with three series recognized. The first series, such as the present piece, was made until the late 1970s and features an acrylic crystal and a lower bezel, and was produced by Antoine Gerlach (casemaker stamp: number 4 in a key). Gerlach was also responsible for the second series of cases, featuring a higher bezel due to the introduction of the sapphire crystal. Finally, the last series (few pieces made in 1980) was manufactured in-house by Ateliers Réunis, Patek Philippe's own casemaking firm, and features a spare glazed display back.
The movement powering reference 3445 is cal. 27-460M, an upgrade of cal. 27-460 (M stands for Monodate) which is itself the final evolution of cal. 12-600, widely considered the best automatic movement of all times.
Combining technical supremacy, practicality and the understated design typical of Patek Philippe, the present watch is an extremely attractive proposition for the connoisseur of fine vintage pieces.
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.