Patek Philippe. A very elegant, fine and rare platinum and diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date

With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of this watch in platinum in 1964 and its subsequent sale on 9 June 1965.

Reference 3445 is the first simple calendar wristwatch ever produced by Patek Philippe. In production for 20 years from 1961 to 1981 in the three gold colors and in platinum, it is furthermore an automatic and water-resistant timepiece.

To the best of our knowledge, only eight other examples of a reference 3445 in platinum are known to exist to date, including only three with the rare dial variant embellished with baguette-cut diamond numerals.
Furthermore, the present piece is offered for sale in truly outstanding condition. Neither the dial nor the case seem to ever have been object of restorative interventions. The dial condition is stunning: a later addition of a previous owner who arguably wanted to make this timepiece even more elegant and distinguished thanks to the breathtaking diamond-set numerals, it features a perfectly intact sunburst finish, without the slightest mark, spot or trace of oxidation. The case, if possible, is even more remarkable: the facets and edges of the lugs as crisp as ever, and that holds true about the tiny and polish-sensitive step on the bezel as well. In a watch that relies so much on shapes to define its style, an unpolished case is of paramount importance if one is to savor the true effect the designer originally wanted to impart to the timepiece. Fortunately, this not only is possible in this watch, but its condition makes it an actual textbook on how the case design of reference 3445 was originally intended to be.