
Penelope Andrews
Head of Department
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Sold for £28,160 inc. premium
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Head of Department

Global Head

Head of sale, Knightsbridge

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Senior Cataloguer

Cataloguer
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At a time when scientific experiments and normal industrial activity were bringing people into contact with magnetism in a way that had not been experienced before, Patek Philippe introduced the Reference 3417. Launched in 1958, the 3417 was a remarkable stainless steel timepiece designed for functionality and precision in demanding environments and was the first anti-magnetic watch produced in series.
Watches have many components in them that are normally susceptible to magnetism which has a severely detrimental effect on time keeping. To combat this the 3417 was equipped with a soft iron inner shield to resist magnetic fields and is powered by the manually wound Caliber 27-AM 400, a movement with antimagnetic parts like the gold pallets specifically engineered to maintain accuracy in conditions where magnetism might otherwise affect performance. This innovative design catered to professionals such as scientists and engineers, making it a standout in Patek Philippe's catalogue at the time.
Please note that this lot is accompanied by a Patek Philippe pouch and a service invoice dated 2021.