Patek Philippe

The perpetual calendar is not only a fabled complication, but is one that’s forever tied to the most illustrious and hallowed manufacturer in the world: Patek Philippe. Not only did the maison bring the complication into wristwatches in 1923, they also defined what a perpetual calendar should look like and how it should perform, having designed dial layouts which have since become the industry standard, and in 1962 announced the first ever automatic perpetual calendar with the reference 3448. After a near 20 year production run, Patek Philippe decided to update the framework laid out by that watch, and the reference 3450 was born in 1981. 

The new reference retained all the features which made the 3448 iconic. The sloped bezel, angular case and sharp, tapered lugs are all present on the 3450. As with its predecessor, the watch case was considered to be extremely futuristic when introduced, completely different to what the industry was accustomed to at the time, and has allowed the design of the watch to remain relevant into the present day. The difference between the two, however, is quick to spot and crucial to note. On the dial of reference 3450 between 3 and 4 o’clock, a new aperture was added to display the 4 year calendar cycle. This was a highly pragmatic addition, as this not only allowed for wearers to anticipate the leap year, but was hugely beneficial to setting the watch accurately. 

Reference 3450 did not share the same longevity as its older sibling which ran for almost 20 years. Instead, production was shut down after 4 short years, when Patek Philippe were ready to unveil their next creation within the perpetual calendar space: the celebrated micro-rotor calibre 240Q, used in prominent references such as the 3940 and, most recently, the 5740. The short run of reference 3450, however, meant that the watch was made in a very small quantity of only an estimated 250 examples, across all metals. This scarcity combined with the collectibility of this reference, not only because of its unique design but also due to it marking the end of the dual aperture style of perpetual calendar design from Patek Philippe, has propelled this reference into the upper echelons of collectibility.