PATEK PHILIPPE, REF. 3450 VERY RARE YELLOW GOLD AUTOMATIC PERPETUAL CALENDAR WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES AND ARABIC LEAP YEAR INDICATION

US$120,000-180,000

With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming dates of manufacture and sale.
The present lot reveals the full potential in size and beauty this reference can offer, combining clean lines and crisp hallmarks to the left side of the case.

In 1981, reference 3450, successor of reference 3448 was introduced into the market with the improved 27-460 QB (Quantieme Bissextile) calibre. The model differs from its predecessor by the modified leap year indication, the eccentric small window at 4 o'clock.

A total of not more than 244 examples of reference 3450 were made, the majority in yellow gold cases, less than a handful in white gold are known to date.

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

Reference 3450 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 290, pl. 449a.