Patek Philippe. An extremely fine 18K gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, 24 hour and leap year indication, Certificate of Origin, additional solid-gold case back, setting pin and box
Many of the watches offered for sale in this catal… Read more THE PROPERTY OF AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE COLLECTOR
Patek Philippe. An extremely fine 18K gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, 24 hour and leap year indication, Certificate of Origin, additional solid-gold case back, setting pin and box

Signed Patek Philippe, Geneve, ref. 3970E, movement no. 876’513, case no. 2’928’170, made in 1993

Details
Patek Philippe. An extremely fine 18K gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, 24 hour and leap year indication, Certificate of Origin, additional solid-gold case back, setting pin and box
Signed Patek Philippe, Geneve, ref. 3970E, movement no. 876’513, case no. 2’928’170, made in 1993
Movement: cal. CH 27-70 Q stamped with the Geneva seal, 24 jewels, signed
Dial: signed
Case: glazed display screw back, 36 mm. diam., signed
With: 18K gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp, Certificate of Origin stamped by Chronometrie Beyer, Zürich and dated August 1993, additional solid case back, wooden and gold setting pin, product literature, leather wallet and wooden presentation box. Further with an Extract from the Archives confirming the manufacture of this watch in 1993 with opaline silvered dial, yellow gold sword-shaped indexes and its subsequent sale on 26 July 1993.
Special notice
Many of the watches offered for sale in this catalogue are pictured with straps made of endangered or protected animal materials such as alligator or crocodile. These endangered species straps are shown for display purposes only and are not for sale. Christie’s will remove and retain the strap prior to shipment from the sale site. At some sale sites, Christie’s may, at its discretion, make the displayed endangered species strap available to the buyer of the lot free of charge if collected in person from the sale site within 1 year of the date of the sale. Please check with the department for details on a particular lot.

Lot Essay

The present reference 3970 is a highly attractive example of the celebrated model.
Purchased by the present owner in 2004, the watch has remained in his collection ever since and is now being offered only for the second time at auction.

Reference 3970
In 1986, Patek Philippe launched a new generation of the perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch, designated reference 3970, replacing the hugely successful reference 2499. The main difference in the movement was the arrival of the new Lemania base ébauche which replaced the Valjoux movement used for the previous 50 years.

Starting with movement number 875'000, the first series of reference 3970 were produced with a solid snap on back, comprising approximately 100 examples. The second series introduced a solid screw back, designated reference 3970E (E for étanche, French for waterproof). A small number of watches from both series were also available with a sapphire crystal back, designated reference 3971E.

In 1989, a third series of ref. 3970 was launched, fitted with a solid screw back as well as an additional sapphire crystal display screw back.

Reference 3970 was discontinued in 2004 and replaced by reference 5970.

While production of the reference 3970/3971 may have ended only thirteen years ago, these modern yet classic perpetual calendar chronographs have become a must-have for the discerning collector of complicated wristwatches.

Reference 3970 and calibre 27-70 Q are illustrated in: Patek Philippe Wristwatches, Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 305 – 308, reference 3971 in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches, Vol. II, p. 307.

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