patekova
1821
For me there is one significant deficiency regarding the legendary Patek 3448 and 2499 models. One cannot quick set the calendar functions.
Specifically, one cannot quick set the month (there is no month corrector), and there is no indication of the leap year cycle. Practically this means one might have to depress the day/date corrector over a 1,000 times to correctly set the watch. Patek apparently thiought this would be so challenging for the user that in its instruction manual for these watches (see photo excerpt from Ca. 1980s manual paragraph 3), it basically said don’t even try. If it is not already set from the factory bring it to Patek to set it for you. And by the way even at Patek, they can’t somehow quick set it thru the movement - I asked.
So I was delighted this morning to see that by sheer coincidence my watch went from February 28 to March 1. Where the watch is in the leap year cycle, I have no idea.
I realize if one wears the watch daily or has it constantly placed on a watch winder that solves the setting issue. On the other hand one might not want the watch to be continually running every day for years on end when the watch eg might only be worn a few times a year.
I find it a bit humorous when people complain about how annoying it is to set a modern Patek PC when all the functions can so easily and relatively quickly be quick set. If they only knew …..
All this said I LOVE the 3448 and I guess this quirk is just part of its vintage charm.
Happy March 1 😊
Best,
Patekova
For me there is one significant deficiency regarding the legendary Patek 3448 and 2499 models. One cannot quick set the calendar functions.
Specifically, one cannot quick set the month (there is no month corrector), and there is no indication of the leap year cycle. Practically this means one might have to depress the day/date corrector over a 1,000 times to correctly set the watch. Patek app...
As I'm fond of saying
Perfection is not supposed to exist, yet here we have it right in front of us. (even with the significant deficiency - aesthetically amazing)
Thank you for your very perceptive and much appreciated compliment! When I think of perfection I think in no particular order of
5970 and Bo Derek in the movie “10” (you know … the beach scene when she’s coming out of the water)😊
Dear Patekova,
This setting problem is so real and the invention of the red dot featured on the dial of ref. 3450 was so important that, in the Patek Philippe Museum, the window display no. 36, which is dedicated to these watches, is called "Le point rouge" ("The red do...
Dear Emmanuel - Thank you for your reply including the images and analysis. The 3450 is much rarer than the 3448 and the red dot was only supplied at the very beginning of the run. So extremely rare.
After that it was it was Roman numerals. At one time I owned both my 3448 and a red dot. I decided it was a bit redundant and more than a bit self indulgent to keep both. I decided to let the red dot go. A factor was the “ cleaner” dial of 3448, although ...
I think you did very well to keep the 3448 if you had to let one go.
I understand that it's hard not missing the 3450: ideally, we would like to have all those we love, of course. But I imagine that the absence of ref. 3448 would be even more painful. Best, Emmanuel
It’s a very nice watch..
But too impractical for me.. I am sticking to moderns perpetuals
Dream watch Patekova
I don’t even bother setting date on my watches, I don’t have a manual or perpetual until now, not sure if my habits will change once I get perpetual calendar. Spoiler alert: new incoming. Best, Ashot
What a beautiful and classy looking Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar 3448.
That sounds like a nightmare to set unless you take to a Patek boutique but how long do they need your watch before you get it back? Marc
I might be over confident but I’m not worried at all
My 3448 is in my bank vault but I’m very confident that I’ll adjust it shortly when I’ll pick it up. Promise I keep you posted… 😉
Yes, certainly it can be done. Not complicated to do - perhaps a little tedious at worst. I waited until January to take mine out it since the month was already on January.
Didn’t care about the leap year cycle. Look forward to reading about your experience
Hi Patekova, Happy March 1st ! Vintage pieces
have their annoyances but they are more than mitigated by their lovely charming features !
Thanks for writing and of course you are correct. With a vintage watch like this which I wear only occasionally, if it is not on the correct year in the leap year cycle, doesn’t
bother me. Happy if necessary to manually correct it one day a year as if it were an annual calendar