PATEK PHILIPPE. A VERY RARE AND HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE 18K GOLD AUTOMATIC PERPETUAL CALENDAR WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES

Consigned by an important collector, the present timepiece is an impressive example of the reference 3448 with a well preserved original dial from the early printed version with pearled minute scale and with perfectly clear markers and signature. The case is likewise very well preserved, retaining excellent proportions, and well-defined edges, it has mellowed beautifully over time, now developing an attractive patina, the hallmarks remain crisp and legible. Subject to a service by Patek Philippe some time ago, the Patek Philippe International Customer Service sticker remains intact on the case back.

Ref. 3448
Introduced to the market in 1962, reference 3448 was at the time the first self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch. According to literature, a total of 586 examples were made, the majority in yellow gold cases.

Fitted with the celebrated calibre 27-460, amongst the most sophisticated and lavish automatic movements ever made. It was later upgraded with Patek Philippe's patented perpetual mechanism fitted on the movement plate underneath the dial and renamed 27-460 Q. In 1981, reference 3450 was introduced to the market with the improved 27-460 QB calibre. The model differs from its predecessor by the modified leap year indication, the eccentric small window at 4 o'clock. The first series was made with a simple red disk and Arabic numerals, the second with Roman I, II, III and IIII leap year indication.

Production of both reference 3448 and 3450 was discontinued in 1985 when reference 3940 was launched.

Reference 3448 is illustrated in: Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 288, and in: Ore d'Oro by Jader Barracca, Giampiero Negretti and Franco Nencini, p. 45. It is also featured in: Time in Gold - Wristwatches by Gerald Viola & Gisbert L. Brunner, pp. 143 & 149.

Also illustrated in: the Blue Book 1, by Eric Tortella, 2018 edition, pp. 540-581