Reference 3445 was launched in 1961 and remained in production for about 20 years. Produced in the three gold colors and in platinum, it is the first Patek Philippe automatic timepiece to feature the simple date complication. The case design of the model evolved over time, with three series recognized. The first series, such as the present piece, was made until the late 1970s and features an acrylic crystal and a lower bezel, and was produced by Antoine Gerlach (casemaker stamp: number 4 in a key). Gerlach was also responsible for the second series of cases, featuring a higher bezel due to the introduction of the sapphire crystal. Finally, the last series (few pieces made in 1980) was manufactured in-house by Ateliers Réunis, Patek Philippe's own casemaking firm, and features a spare glazed display back.

The movement powering reference 3445 is cal. 27-460M, an upgrade of cal. 27-460 (M stands for Monodate) which is itself the final evolution of cal. 12-600, widely considered the best automatic movement of all times.

Combining technical supremacy, practicality and the understated design typical of Patek Philippe, the present watch is an extremely attractive proposition for the connoisseur of fine vintage pieces.