Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1961 Reference No: 3433 Movement No: 1’110’463 Case No: 2’614’407 Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 27-460, 30 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe pin buckle Dimensions: 36mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Delivered with a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the date of manufacture of the present timepiece in 1961 and its subsequent date of sale on 8th April 1961.
Catalogue Essay
Whenever one seeks for an elegant and timeless wristwatch, it is rather often that Patek Philippe is the name that is mentioned, and perhaps for the very right reasons. The Patek Philippe ref. 3433 is an example that ticks all the boxes, elegant, large, waterproof and self-winding.
Released in 1960, the ref. 3433 was the direct successor to the legendary ref. 2551, the second reference to be powered by the famous self-winding cal. 12-600 AT. Bearing essentially very similar aesthetics to its previous model, the ref. 3433 is equipped with the firm’s latest self-winding cal. 27-460, a movement developed from the cal. 12-600 AT. Featuring an extremely attractive stepped case with strong representation of the “Disco Volante” style made by master casemaker A. Wenger, the stunning sunburst dial with hard enamel signature is made by Stern Freres. With a total production span of six years, the reference was released in yellow gold, pink gold, white gold and platinum. It is estimated that throughout its course of production, 400 examples were encased in yellow gold with approximately 30 examples known in the market.
The present example Patek Philippe ref. 3433 in yellow gold from 1961 boasting an attractive unpolished case with defined steps it is also presented with a nice dial with hard enamel graphics preserved.
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.