Christie's Debuts a Patek Philippe Icon to Auction in Asia (HK May 22, 2021): Alan Banbery, the exclusive Patek Philippe reference 3448J “No Moon Phase” with prototype leap year indication (estimate: HK$24,8 million – 40 million / US$3,1 million – 5 million) . This artwork was presented by Henri and Philippe Stern to Alan Banbery in 1975 and is now one of the most legendary wristwatches associated with Patek Philippe and is poised to set a world auction record for the reference when this is offered. May.
What makes the reference “3448 by Alan Banbery” important? An exceptional provenance. Alan Banbery, apart from the owners of the family-owned Patek Philippe company, Henri and Philippe Stern, was perhaps the most influential figure at Patek Philippe in the second half of the 1965th century. He joined the company as sales manager for English-speaking territories in 40 and, during his nearly XNUMX-year illustrious journey with the brand, helped the Stern family preserve and collect historic Patek Philippe and other timepieces. watchmaking masterpieces. With his guidance in acquisitions, the collection has become so outstanding that it culminated in the opening of the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva in 2001, after which Alan Banbery retired. To celebrate his 3448th anniversary with Patek Philippe and in appreciation of his achievements and devotion to the company, Henri and Philippe Stern directly gifted the current reference 1975 to Alan Banbery in 25, who personally kept it for almost XNUMX years old.
The reference 3448 automatic perpetual calendar with moon phase indication is one of the most desirable Patek Philippe classic models of the 60s-70s. This Alan Banbery wristwatch is a standalone watch among all the reference 3448s, as it is the only example of “No Moon Phase” fully documented, fully documented and specially commissioned with a leap year indication on the dial. The unique mechanical conversion work of removing the moon phase disc to allow a leap year indication to be displayed with a special set of small hands, vIt is recorded as being made by Patek Philippe's master watchmaker Max Berney, with the center of the case back engraved with the famous “AB” monogram for Alan Banbery. Extraordinary craftsmanship: the reference 3448, introduced on the market in 1962, was at the time the first self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch. It was equipped with the famous caliber 27-460, one of the most sophisticated and sumptuous automatic movements ever made.
