Patek Philippe reference 3445 is an automatic calendar wristwatch. Patek made it from 1961 to about 1985. The case measures about 35 mm across, in 18k gold, with a date window at 3 o'clock and two hands. Most examples carry no seconds hand. The movement is the Caliber 27-460 M, an automatic with a date module. Counterfeit 3445 watches exist. They are far fewer than copies of the Nautilus 5711 or the Aquanaut 5167. A counterfeit 3445 gets no service from Patek Philippe, no parts from the factory, and no value on the secondary market.
What the Reference 3445 Is
Patek introduced the 3445 in 1961. Watch literature describes it as the first Patek Philippe automatic with a date. Production ran to about 1985. Cases came in 18k yellow, pink, and white gold. Steel examples are rare. The caseback screws down. The dial carries applied gold indexes and a date aperture at 3. The reference sat in the catalog for 24 years, which means condition and dial variants differ from one example to the next.
Why Copies of This Reference Are Fewer
Replica factories in China and the sellers who ship from there build models with steady demand: Nautilus, Aquanaut, Royal Oak, Submariner, Daytona. The 3445 is a small dress watch with a two-hand dial. It trades in small numbers at auction. A copy needs a date-only automatic movement, a plated case, and a printed dial. Builds with the 3445 reference number appear on marketplaces and classified sites. Volume data is not public. No registry lists makers or serial ranges for counterfeit 3445 watches.
How to Check a 3445 for Authenticity
- Hallmarks. An 18k case carries a 0.750 gold stamp plus Swiss hallmarks. Counterfeit cases often have no stamp or a stamp with wrong proportions.
- Weight. Compare the watch against a known 18k example of the same case size. Plated and steel copies weigh less.
- Movement. Caliber 27-460 M has a gold rotor, Geneva stripes, and a Patek Philippe signature. Copies use ETA 2892 clones, Miyota movements, or Chinese automatics with different bridge shapes.
- Numbers. Ask for the case number and movement number before payment, then order an Extract from the Archives from Patek Philippe. Both numbers must match the extract.
- Gold test. Use XRF, not acid. XRF reads alloy content without damaging the case.
- Date wheel. Check the font and the position of the aperture against a documented example of the same year.
US Law on Counterfeit Watches
18 U.S.C. § 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. Statutory maximums include prison terms of up to 10 years and fines. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy counterfeit imports under 19 U.S.C. § 1526. A buyer who imports a counterfeit watch can lose it at the border. Sellers also face civil suits under the Lanham Act, with statutory damages of up to $200,000 per counterfeit mark and up to $2,000,000 for willful use.
Service and Resale After Purchase
Patek Philippe does not service counterfeits. An independent watchmaker can replace a movement but cannot source Patek parts. Auction houses and most dealers will not accept a counterfeit on consignment. Resale value sits near zero, and the case value equals scrap gold content only. Appraisal for insurance is not available for a counterfeit.
What Records Cannot Confirm
Customs seizure reports do not break out reference numbers, so no count of counterfeit 3445 watches exists. Photographs prove nothing on their own. If a seller withholds the case number, the movement number, or the archive extract, treat the claim as unverified.