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Patek Philippe

Ref. 3418

A fine, previously unknown and astoundingly rare wristwatch with navy blue dial, engraved indexes and Milanese bracelet

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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.

The present example is distinguished by the attractive Milanese bracelet and by the rare navy blue dial. Most intriguingly, the hour markers are neither applied nor printed on the dial. Rather, they are carved into it - a detail confirmed by the extract. Such a dial construction adds intellectual interest and aesthetic flair to the piece. While the majority of the reference was fitted with a silvered dial, in very rare instances black dials were known to have been realized. It is however the first time that this watch - which can thus be currently classified as unique - is the first and only example with blue dial and carved indexes to appear on the market so far.

Patek Philippe

Swiss | 1839

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.

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