Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Jun 02, 2007

LOT 181

Ref. 3448, ?White Gold? Patek Philippe, Genève, retailed by Gübelin, No. 1119545, case No. 332643, Ref. 3448/17. Made in 1978, sold on September 9th, 1981. Very fine and very rare, astronomic, self-winding, 18K white gold gentleman?s wristwatch with perpetual calendar, moon phases and an integral 18K white gold Patek Philippe bracelet. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

HKD 1,600,000 - 2,000,000

USD 210,000 - 265,000 / EUR 160,000 - 200,000

Sold: HKD 1,743,000

C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, inclined bezel. D. Matte silver with applied white gold bâton indexes, graduation for the days of the month, apertures for the days of the week, the months and the yellow gold moon phases, Gübelin secret signature under the moon phase aperture. White gold "dauphine" hands. M. Cal. 27-460 Q, stamped twice with the Seal of Geneva Quality Mark, rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 37 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, Gyromax balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring, 18K yellow gold rotor. Dial, case and movement signed, dial signed by the retailer. Diam. 37 mm. Thickness 13 mm. Approx. overall length 180 mm. Property of a European Collector


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

It is extremely rare to find a dial still retaining its secret Gübelin signature, as the signature tends to disappear when the dials are refreshed.

Ref. 3448 Produced in 586 examples from 1962 to 1982, with the caliber 27- 460 Q, the majority in yellow gold, rarely in pink or white gold. This series began with the serial number 1119000. Six watches of this reference are known to exist without the moon phases. During the 50s and 60s gold bracelets were fitted between lugs by means of a spring bar and were sold separately, thus not changing the reference of the watch. At the beginning of the 70s a new fashion was launched and more watches were proposed with an integrated gold bracelet. The Patek Phillipe reference then changed with an additional number after the four first digits, as follows: 3448/3, or 3448/15, and so on, depending on the bracelet design.

Gübelin This company began in 1854 as a family business run by Maurice Breitschmid in Lucerne, Switzerland. He first advertised as a watchmaker, and as business grew, Breitschmid brought on his son-in-law, Jacques-Edouard Gübelin, as a partner. Gübelin eventually took over the company. He introduced jeweled watches and jewelry to the business in 1921 at the opening of their New York branch, after collaborating with the jeweler Edmond Frisch. Gübelin also opened branches in St. Moritz, Zurich, Geneva, Berne, Lugano, and Basel. Gübelin?s sons eventually entered the family business; his eldest son, Dr. Edouard Gübelin, opened a gemological laboratory and made a name for himself internationally, while his youngest son, Walter, was drawn toward artistic expression and contributed to the company through his creative designs. This successful company has created superior quality clocks and watches for more than a century.