Patek Philippe

To celebrate its 150th anniversary, Patek Philippe launched in 1989 the most mechanically complicated wristwatch at the time, reference 3974. Skillfully combining a self-winding perpetual calendar with 24-hour indication, moon phases and a minute repeater in a 36 mm case. In fact, the impressive movement only measures 28 mm in diameter and 6.8 mm in height, despite being composed of 467 parts. 

Discontinued in 2000, the Swiss brand only produced a total number of around 160 examples of this reference, making it one of the most sought after grand complications within the Patek Philippe repertoire. The present watch’s rarity is further enhanced by the presence of JHP being stamped on the bottom right lug, signifying that the case was produced by the celebrated case maker Jean-Pierre Hagmann, a feature only found among the early examples of the reference. Furthermore, the watch comes accompanied by an Extract from the Archives confirming its production in 1990 and a Certificate of Origin bearing the stamp of Swiss retailer Gubelin. 

The present lot offers a rare opportunity to acquire one of Patek Philippe’s most coveted references. Even serious collectors such as Henry Graves’s grandson, Reginald ‘Pete’ Fullerton failed to acquire one in his quest to assemble a collection of every Patek Philippe perpetual calendar ever made. Writing to Patek Philippe a year before the official launch of the reference, he mentioned ‘“I noticed a picture of a wristwatch to be made in 1988 and numbered 3974. Obviously you are holding out on me. What can you tell me about this little gem? The ghost of Henry Graves, Jr. tells me to look into this matter.”