Important Watches: Part I
Important Watches: Part I
Patek Philippe
Reference 3970EJ-014 | A yellow gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases and leap year indication | Circa 2005
Auction Closed
November 10, 01:01 PM GMT
Estimate
70,000 - 110,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Dial: silvered
Calibre: cal. 27-70 manual winding, 24 jewels
Movement number: 3’045’902
Case: 18k yellow gold, screw-down sapphire crystal display case back
Case number: 4’153’786
Closure: 18k yellow gold Patek Philippe folding clasp
Size: 36 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: yes
Papers: yes
Accessories: Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin, instruction manual, leather bifold and presentation case with outer packaging
In 1986 Patek Philippe introduced reference 3970 as the successor to the 2499 and a lineage of perpetual calendar chronographs that had become an icon of 20th century Swiss watchmaking. Discontinued in 2004, the 3970 heralded the “perpetual calendar chronograph” title which is sought after by collectors today. Over its production span, the reference 3970 exhibited a wide range of dial variations and case materials, as is common with long-running references.
Reference 3970 came to the world during a transitional period for Patek Philippe and its design is reminiscent of historic Patek Philippe models and perpetual calendar chronographs, featuring a traditional display with three subsidiary dials: a leap year indication and 30-minute totaliser at three o’clock, a moonphase and date display at six, a chronograph 12-hour totaliser and running seconds at 9, and twin apertures for the day and month at twelve - the present one in English.