Patek Philippe - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XIV Hong Kong Friday, May 27, 2022 | 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: 1977
    Reference No: 3448
    Movement No: 1’119’508
    Case No: 332’866
    Model Name: Padellone
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 27-460 Q, 37 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe pin buckle
    Dimensions: 37.5mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Delivered with a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming its date of manufacture of the present timepiece in 1977 and its subsequent date of sale on 23rd March 1978 and a copy of a newspaper.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Patek Philippe ref. 3448 is with no doubt an important milestone piece for the firm. Adapting a complete new and revitalized case design featuring sharp edges, straight lines and pointy edges, it was also the firm's first serially produced self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch. Designed to a fashion which was budding in the late 1950s and fully bloomed throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The large sloped bezel works in conjunction with the clean dial and amplifies the already generous 37mm diameter round-shaped case.

    Introduced in 1962, the ref. 3448 was the only self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch at the time available in the market for the next 16 years. Having enjoyed a lengthy production spanning 19 years approximately, only a total of an estimated 586 examples produced across all metals and four series.

    The four series of ref. 3448 can be determined as such:

    - The first series features small calendar ring, indexes closer to the center of the dial and engraved/enameled minute divisions.

    - The second series introduces beady minute divisions.

    - The third series maintains the beady divisions but introduces the large numerals for the date rings and indexes closer to the outer edge of the dial.

    - The fourth series - exemplified by the present timepiece - features printed minute divisions.

    The present example Patek Philippe ref. 3448 from the fourth series manufactured in 1977 cased in yellow gold comes with an interesting provenance as it was the very example featured in The Daily Telegraph newspaper article titled "Back to the Golden Age" on page 5 of the Spotlight section with words by the connoisseur, Nicholas Foulkes. Chosen as the headlining feature, it represents the essence of the prestigious heritage of Patek Philippe perpetual calendar wristwatches, which was also the reference that inspired the release of the ref. 5320G perpetual calendar wristwatch in 2017 explained in the detailed article with strong resemblance for its dial design and some refined elements of the case.

    Preserved in the same exact condition as it was featured in the newspaper article, the present timepiece is offered with a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming its date of production in 1997 and its subsequent date of sale on 23rd March 1978 and an original copy of the Newspaper dated 25th March 2017.

  • 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

Σ1123

Ref. 3448
A fine, rare and historically interesting yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases

1977
37.5mm diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
HK$625,000 - 780,000 
€79,600-99,400
$80,100-100,000

Sold for HK$1,386,000

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia 
+852 2318 2001
WatchesHK@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XIV

Hong Kong Auction 27 - 28 May 2022