Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1968 Reference No: 3483 Movement No: 712'340 Case No: 2'659'668 Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Mechanical, 27 SC, 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Black crocodile leather strap Dimensions: 35 mm. diameter Signed:Case, dial and movement signed, dial further signed by retailer Accessories: With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1968 and its subsequent sale on 17 April 1968.
Catalogue Essay
During the 1950's and 1960's, Calatrava style wristwatches became very popular and fashionable. At the time, watches cased in yellow, white gold and platinum were considered more valuable than their stainless steel counterparts. As such, very little were produced, and stainless steel wristwatches are today incredibly valuable due to their rarity.
The present watch, reference 3483, was produced in stainless steel only. According to our research, around 500 examples were made. This example is preserved in very original condition and is further enhanced by its prestigious retailer's signature, Beyer, located above 6 o'clock.
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.