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. This well preserved yellow gold ref. 3448 was made and sold in 1971. According to the Extract from the Archives, it was later given a yellow gold bracelet in 1974 (now missing) and is currently back to its original configuration.
Collectability Says:
“Few watches embody the daring innovation of the 1960s and 70s as powerfully as the ref. 3448. As the world’s first automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch, this reference combined scale, presence, complication and elegance in a way no watch had done before. This yellow gold example from 1971 captures Patek Philippe at its best— marrying groundbreaking mechanics with timeless design. For the collector, the ref. 3448 remains not only a grail, but a milestone in the evolution of modern horology.”
