Patek Philippe - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: X Hong Kong Friday, July 10, 2020 | Phillips

Create your first list.

Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.

  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1975
    Reference No: 3448/14
    Movement No: 1’119’407
    Case No: 331’547
    Model Name: ‘Padellone’
    Material: 18K white gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 27-460 Q, 37 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: 18K white gold Patek Philippe integrated bracelet, max length 185mm
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Patek Philippe folding clasp
    Dimensions: 37mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
    Accessories: Further delivered with Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming its white gold bracelet, its date of manufacture in 1975 and its subsequent date of sale on 26th November 1975. Further accompanied by Gübelin Extract from the Archives confirming its retailer signature on the dial and its blue enamel engraving on the caseback with its corresponding case and movement numbers.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Since the introduction of the world’s first perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch, Patek Philippe is regarded as one of the best and the first to execute. Following its succession, Patek Philippe introduced another milestone piece that would later become a pillar of its own in the long history of calendar watches by Patek Philippe. Introduced in 1962, the ref. 3448 was the firm’s first self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch. With a refreshed appeal deemed as somewhat futuristic and differing from its predecessors, the ref. 3448 featured a stepped case with extremely sharp edges that mimics the looks of a flying saucer and adopted the nickname ‘Padellone’.

    With an estimated total production of the reference at 586 examples combined across all four series and case materials with the production of the reference spanning over 20 years, it is indeed rare. With most encased in yellow gold it is believed that around 450 examples were produced with 160 known examples in the market and 130 examples in white gold produced with 74 examples known in the market with only 14 examples known fitted with an integrated bracelet. The case was made by renowned casemaker Antoine Gerlach who was also making Calatrava cases for Patek Philippe at the time. Patented by Patek Philippe is the new and at the time the best self-winding perpetual calendar caliber 27-460 Q.

    The present example belongs to a rare variant of the much appreciated reference. Encased in the rarer white gold case, the present example is further exemplified by an integrated bracelet without the usual pointed lugs. Believed as a special request from an important client of Patek Philippe, the client asked to incorporate an integrated bracelet normally seen in the ref. 3605/1 Ellipse Jumbo which makes this present example possibly unique. Furthermore, the present example is double-signed by Swiss retailer “Gübelin”, which takes the rarity of the present timepiece to a whole new level. Till today, the reference in white gold is only known with integrated bracelets -1, -2, -3, -6, -17 and -300, the present stamped with -14 is the first example to ever surface in the market. Featuring painted outer minute track instead of the pearl minute track seen in the earliest examples of the reference, the present example was produced after 1972 and confirmed by the Extract from the Archives with its date of manufacture in 1975. Presented in excellent overall condition and fresh to the market from the family of the original owner, the present 3448 in white gold is most certainly attractive. With a nice case retaining its sharp edges and a well-defined “step”, the case band still retains its hallmark as well as a nice blue enamel initials "ZS" on the caseback. Moreover, an Extract from the archives issued by Gübelin confirms the present example with an 18K white gold integrated bracelet in the style of the ref. 3605/1 as well as its blue enamel initials on the caseback in gothic style. To add to its importance and attraction, only 12 examples of the reference stamped with “Gübelin” is known only in yellow gold, it is the first time for a white gold example to appear in the market doubled signed “Gübelin”. This is a great opportunity for discerned collectors of Patek Philippe to acquire an important perpetual calendar wristwatch in a never seen before configuration coming from the family of the original owner.

    "We sincerely thank Gübelin and Mr. Sager, Head of Atelier Watches at the Gübelin Headquarters in Luzern, Switzerland for kindly supplying us with information from their archives."

  • Artist Biography

    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.

    View More Works

FROM THE FAMILY OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER

1017

Ref. 3448/14
A possibly unique and well-preserved white gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases and integrated bracelet, retailed by Gübelin

1975
37mm diameter
Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$2,340,000 - 3,900,000 
€255,000-426,000
$300,000-500,000

Sold for HK$3,750,000

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi

Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001

WatchesHK@phillips.com

 

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: X

Hong Kong Auction 10 July 2020