Comments:
So pure; so perfect. An embodiment of complicated simplicity.
Congrats on having this beauty.
Cheers,
John
Cheers,
John
Super nice watch and looks like in super condition, congratulations on a dream come true.
Has anyone ever answer how this reference indicate leap year or how to set it?
I remember members asking and talking about it but no one really answers.
Maybe now owners can shed some light?
Rgds
Raymond
Leap year
Yes, i remember well a discussion on this. In fact, I remember some members questioning whether or not the 3448 could be described as a perpetual calendar because it does not have a leap year indicator. So now i will try to answer definitively.
The 3448 does not have a leap indicator. However, that does not mean that it does not recognise leap years. It does recognise leap years. So, when it is set by Patek Philippe at service, they work out what part of the 4yr cycle we are in and then set it correctly. Once it has been set correctly, it will recognise leap years and act as any perpetual calendar. Regrettably, it can take Patek a number of minutes during service to detemine what part of the 4yr cycle we are in, but once that has been set, it is fine.
Of course, one can work through the 4yr cycle oneself if one has the time, but it can take 15 -20 minutes to determine what year of the cycle we are in.
Does that make it clear?
One way of thinking about it is this....just because it doesn't show a leap year indicator doesn't mean it doesn't know its a leap year or not. It does.
The 3448 does not have a leap indicator. However, that does not mean that it does not recognise leap years. It does recognise leap years. So, when it is set by Patek Philippe at service, they work out what part of the 4yr cycle we are in and then set it correctly. Once it has been set correctly, it will recognise leap years and act as any perpetual calendar. Regrettably, it can take Patek a number of minutes during service to detemine what part of the 4yr cycle we are in, but once that has been set, it is fine.
Of course, one can work through the 4yr cycle oneself if one has the time, but it can take 15 -20 minutes to determine what year of the cycle we are in.
Does that make it clear?
One way of thinking about it is this....just because it doesn't show a leap year indicator doesn't mean it doesn't know its a leap year or not. It does.
I also agree this watch does not need to show leap year to be recognized as a PC.
This is "The" Perpertual Calendar, and is a beautiful one.
Thank you for the explanation, Joe, now I can rest better.
Rgds
Raymond
Thank you for the explanation, Joe, now I can rest better.
Rgds
Raymond
Yes.
Once it has been set, it knows the leap year adjustment and will run without adjustment. To be fair, even when a watch has a leap year indicator, it still needs to be set correctly to initiate.
The difference between 3448 and 3450 being just how long it takes to set up.
The difference between 3448 and 3450 being just how long it takes to set up.
Thank you Raymond for your kind words
and thank you Joe for having already answered for the settings
Yes I know it is a very special watch my friend, I dream of it since over 10 years... [nt]
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Mike, since you have a great appreciation of 3448 I thought you might be interested in seeing this example of its cousin, the uber rare 3449.
I do not and have never owned a reference 3449. While the dial is similar to 3448, the case has obvious differences. The biggest difference is that it is a manual wind movement and only 3!! examples were made. 3449s have over many years come up at auction a few times and obviously were major events in the auction world. Enjoy your fantastic early 3448. Best, patekova
Uber rare yes but for me automatic movement was one of the first characteristics I was looking for [nt]
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Truly speechless by just looking at it
I mean what an icon and you must be in heaven. As we talked, there are so many things to enjoy, the little set backs we all have, we need to learn to accept them.
Enjoy it as much as i would do .. hehe 
CC
I am super happy for you, Mike. Enjoy as you and the watch deserve it. Great catch, that's for sure. [nt]
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Very hard to beat this watch
Full of character, in a great condition and a very useful complication. Congratulations.
That is a really remarkable Patek!
Congratulations to an outstanding Patek that is very close to a perfect watch. Best Moritz
what a beautiful reality. I love this! These vintage PP Perpetuals are hard to beat :-) [nt]
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Your dream comes true.
Nice WS. The light blurred the dial color, isn't?
Cheers,
Patrickh
Cheers,
Patrickh
