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 setting 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 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 specimen of reference 3450 is distinguished by the presence of a second glazed caseback. While the Extract specifies that the watch originally left the workshop with a solid back, the glazed backs bears etched to the inside the last 3 digits of the case number, as it is customary for Patek Philippe to do when producing a special component for the watch, which should be univocally linked to the rest of the piece. This detail, combined with the overall quality of the execution, strongly suggests it was Patek Philippe themselves that made the glazed back, most likely a later request from the owner who wanted to admire the superlative movement. While such speculation cannot be substantiated, the transparent back in any case offers a hardly-ever-seen window onto one of the most spectacular works of watchmaking engineering of the mid-20th century. The back furthermore features a Beyer Service engraving: "04 126613 +Z3", where 04 identifies the year 2004, "126613" is the service number (which can be found on the accompanying service invoice) and +Z3 famously identifies Beyer. An additional remark about the Beyer services is that, both in 2004 and in 2015, the owner specifically asked in writing to avoid polishing as expected by a true connoisseur.
With its transparent back that allows the beholder to admire in its full glory the amazing cal. 27-460, its original Certificate, and very attractive and honest condition, the present timepiece will undoubtedly delight its future owner for years to come.