Patek Philippe - The Geneva Watch Auction: XI Geneva Sunday, June 28, 2020 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1985
    Reference No: 3450
    Movement No: 1'119'781
    Case No: 2'808'558
    Model Name: "Padellone"
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 27-460 QB, 37 jewels, stamped twice with the Geneva Seal
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather strap
    Clasp/Buckle: Yellow gold PPCo pin buckle
    Dimensions: 37,5mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin stamped by Munich retailer Uhren Huber and dated February 2, 1986, setting pin and fitted presentation box. Furthermore delivered with Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1985 and its subsequent sale on April 15, 1985

  • Catalogue Essay

    Launched in 1981, reference 3450 was the successor to reference 3448 - Patek Philippe's very first automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch. While aesthetically similar to reference 3448, it most notably features a leap year indicator on the dial. In addition, its case back is slightly smaller and is fitted with a "tongue", enabling it to be easily removed by the wearer. Notably, it is the first serially made Patek Philippe wristwatch featuring leap year indication allowing for an easier setting of the exact date; earlier models required a potentially very lengthy synchronisation procedure to manually identify the leap year and then advance to the current year in the cycle.

    The present watch, manufactured in 1985, is among the very last examples of reference 3450s ever made before the introduction of reference 3940. While the first generation examples were fitted with a "red dot" to indicate the leap year, second generation examples displayed Roman numerals I, II, III and IV, like the present model. 

    This example is previously unknown and fresh to the auction market. Offered by the family of the original owner, it remarkably features the Certificate of Origin and original wooden box. Stamped by German retailer “Uhren Huber” it perfectly fits the German calendar discs found on the watch, a very rare feature in itself.

    Patek Philippe produced very limited quantities of reference 3450, typically casing the model in yellow gold. To date, scholars estimate that Patek Philippe produced only 237 examples in total.

    As such, fresh-to-the-market gems hardly ever appear at auction, and they are going to be even more scarce in the future when the last few unknown examples have been found.

  • Artist Biography

    Patek Philippe

    Swiss • 1839

    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.

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154

Ref. 3450
An important, rare and well preserved yellow gold automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch with moonphases, leap year indicator, German calendar, box and original certificate

1985
37,5mm Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF150,000 - 250,000 
€139,000-232,000
$164,000-273,000

Sold for CHF300,000

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

41 79 637 1724
aghotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XI

Geneva Auction 27 - 28 June 2020