While they are famed for their precious metal dress watches and ultra-complicated feats of technical prowess, one obscure part of Patek Philippe’s past is their small history in creating anti-magnetic watches that would remain accurate no matter the magnetic field they came into contact with. Perhaps the best-known reference within that unique collection of offerings is the Amagnetic ref. 3417 that we have here. Launched in 1958 and produced until the late 1960s, the ref. 3417 is not only unique amongst Patek’s historical catalog due to its anti-magnetic properties, but aso due to its stainless steel construction, an extreme rarity for Patek, especially prior to the launch of the Nautilus in 1976. Adding to that, the ref. 3417 also features a screw-down caseback, which has also been a relative rarity for Patek Philippe. Offered in a svelte but wearable 35mm case and boasting an eggshell white dial with a seconds subdial and a lone Arabic numeral at 12 o’clock, the ref. 3417 is a watch that is immediately recognisable on the wrist amongst Patek collectors, but a more “if you know you know” kind of watch for those who are not privy to the intricacies of Patek Philippe’s history as a watchmaker. Powered by the manual-wind calibre 12'''400 AM movement from 1958 to 1960 and the cal. 27-AM 400 manula-wind movement from then to its discontinuation, the ref. 3417 packs a lot of history and intrigue into its legendary stainless steel amagnetic case.

One of Patek's most sought-after mid-century offerings thanks to its unique history, unusual properties, and clean and refined aesthetic, the ref. 3417 speaks to Patek's collector base, who want something that no one else has and something that very few people know about.