Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...
New York, Jun 10, 2010
LOT 361
Patek Philippe - Ref. 3448 - Retailed by Howes Jewelers Patek Philippe, Genève, movement No. 1119522, case No. 332890, Ref. 3448. Made in 1977, sold on October 18th, 1978. Very fine and very rare, self-winding, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with perpetual calendar, moon phases and an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.
USD 80,000 - 100,000
EUR 65,000 - 80,000 / CHF 90,000 - 110,000
Sold: USD 103,200
C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, inclined bezel, lapidated lugs, snap-on case back, sapphire crystal. D. Matte silver with applied yellow gold faceted baton and pyramidal indexes, outer dot minute division, subsidiary dial for the days of the month, apertures for the days of the week, the months and the moon phases. Yellow gold dauphine hands. M. Cal. 27-460 Q, stamped with the Seal of Geneva quality mark, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 37 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, Gyromax balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, shock absorber, selfcompensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring, 18K yellow gold rotor. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 37 mm. Thickness 11 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: |
|
Case: 3 |
Good |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 2-01 |
Very good HANDS Original |
Notes
Howes Brothers (later B.D. Howes and Sons) Founded circa 1880 in Clinton, Iowa, the brothers Edward and Benjamin Howes's shop specialized in Missisipi cultured pearls, jewelry, silver and watches. After Edward retired and embarked upon a career in politics, Benjamin moved to California and founded the B.D. Howes and Sons company. It developed to over 10 locations in California, Arizona and Hawaii.
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.