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.
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.
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