Underappreciated and forgotten by many, the Patek Philippe Amagnetic is one of the most slept-on timepieces in the maison’s expansive backcatalog.
Introduced in 1958, the Amagnetic, short for anti-magnetic, was specifically made for professionals such as engineers, doctors, and scientists who were exposed to high magnetic fields on the daily, conditions that would render non-shielded wristwatches useless. The Amagnetic was made exclusively in stainless steel and featured an understated dial that embodied Patek's savoir faire — elegant simplicity.
This example, a highly-coveted early Reference 3417A, features a 35mm stainless steel case with straight lugs, an acrylic crystal, a screwdown caseback, signed crown, and a manually-wound Calibre 27 AM (anti-magnetic) 400 protected by an inner iron cover designed to withstand magnetic fields up to 450 oersteds.
Its stunning satin silver dial, brought to life by Stern Frères, features an oversized constant seconds subsidiary register, applied hour indices, a matching stick handset, and the beautifully executed Type 1 ‘Amagnetic’ script printed below the applied Arabic 12 o'clock marker.
Produced and purchased in 1962, as confirmed by the included Extract from the Archives, this example is in outstanding condition throughout, featuring an unpolished case and a pristine dial. Fitted to a signed black alligator leather strap with a signed steel pin buckle, this piece is unassuming on the wrist and only collectors with a deep scholarship of the maison's historical references will truly understand just how special this piece is.
Rarely does an 3417A - nevermind a stunning example such as this one - surface in such fantastic, honest condition.
Highly collectable and ultra cool, this is the steel watch to own from Patek Philippe!