Originally sold in 1979, this full set ref. 3448 is fitted with its original yellow gold bracelet (the “/1J” configuration), a scarce and highly desirable variant. With 450 yellow gold examples of the ref. 3448 believed to have been made in all configurations, bracelet-equipped ref. 3448s were produced in comparatively small numbers and often as special client requests. This rare example is even more unusual that it is preserved Full Set with a long, integrated bracelet sized for a 7 inch diameter wrist.
The ref. 3448 is one of the most iconic perpetual calendar wristwatches of the 20th century, and the very first automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch ever produced by any brand. Introduced in 1962 and manufactured until 1981 in approximately 586 examples, the ref. 3448 earned the nickname Padellone (“large frying pan” in Italian) for its bold 37.5 mm proportions and strikingly case design. The ref. 3448J is housed in a case made by Atelier Wenger, with angular sculpted lugs and a snap-on back. Its opaline silvered dial displays day and month in twin apertures beneath 12 o’clock, while a moon-phase and date ring dominate the lower half of the dial at 6 o’clock. Applied baton indexes and dauphine hands complete the pure yet modernist layout. At its heart beats the automatic caliber 27-460 Q, based on the renowned 27-460 movement and adapted with a perpetual calendar mechanism. With a Gyromax balance and self-winding capability, it represented a major leap forward in perpetual calendar design, combining elegance, reliability, and convenience.
