108 Patek Philippe A highly rare and attractive, square-shape automatic wristwatch in white gold, retailed by Gobbi Milano, reference 3485.

Estimate: Fr. 30'000 –⁠ 60'000

• Model Square
• Year 1967
• Reference 3485
• Case Material 18K white gold
• Case Number 2'645'151
• Bracelet Material Leather strap
• Movement Automatic, cal. 27-460, 37 jewels
• Movement Number 1'114'956
• Dimension 31mm width x 38mm length
• Signed Case, dial and movement
• Accessories Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the production of the present timepiece in 1967 and its subsequent sale on 31st May 1967 and fitted presentation box.

At a time when round cases reigned supreme and conservatism was the lingua franca of fine horology, this square, architecturally assertive wristwatch emerged as a declaration of confidence. The geometry of this reference 3485 is deliberate, the lines taut, the proportions almost audacious for the late 1960s. The stepped case, executed here in white gold, possesses a sculptural quality that rewards close inspection. The interplay between brushed planes and polished bevels gives the watch a quiet dynamism, almost Brutalist in spirit yet unmistakably Genevan in execution. Inside beats an automatic movement, underscoring the maison’s technical maturity during the period. If rarity is measured not merely in numbers but in narrative, this example speaks volumes. Only four examples in white gold are known to scholarship, and among them, this is the sole piece retailed by Gobbi. The co-signature, crisp, hard enamel, and beautifully preserved, adds a layer of historical texture that transforms the watch from an object into a document. Gobbi, long established as one of Italy’s most distinguished retailers, rarely appears on such unconventional Patek references. Condition, too, tells its own story. The hallmarks remain sharp and legible, the case edges well-defined, the surfaces honest. The dial retains its integrity, with the signature still proud and clear. An Extract from the Archives confirms production in 1967 and its sale on May 31st of the same year, placing this piece firmly within a fascinating transitional era, when design language across industries was evolving at speed. Reference 3485 is not a Calatrava, nor does it attempt to be. It is something rarer: a confident departure, executed with the quiet authority that only Patek Philippe could command.