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Descrizione dettagliata lotto
It is an immense pleasure to offer this truly exceptional and possibly unique reference 3979 white gold minute repeater to an international audience after a decade in an important private collection. Without question one of the most compellingly attractive and ultimate rarities of the entire reference, it is only the second reference 3979 cased in white gold to be presented at auction. Moreover, it features an absolutely stunning and possibly unique special request silvered dial with Breguet numerals, confirmed not only by the Extract from the Archives, but also by the original Certificate of Origin. This awesome aesthetic is part of the legend of this most unconventional of 3979’s. Almost all other examples of the reference feature a white porcelain dial with Roman numerals, the present watch is accompanied by its original silvered Breguet numeral dial which was retained when the present dial was changed to the white porcelain dial with Roman numerals upon special request in the Patek Philippe workshops in 1998.
To the best of our knowledge, this exceptional minute repeater is the only example known with confirmed silvered dial with applied white gold Breguet numerals, and only the second white gold reference 3979 to be offered at international auction.
Reference 3979
One of the most important wristwatches ever made in series by Patek Philippe, reference 3979 was launched in 1989 to celebrate the house’s 150th anniversary. It was the first ever automatic minute repeater to be produced by Patek, and discontinued in 1998.
According to research, only 100 examples of this reference were ever produced, it was made in yellow gold, white gold and platinum, the majority in yellow gold, with approximately 12 pieces cased in white gold. Each watch was fitted with the ingeniously designed Calibre R 27 PS, which impresses with its small, but incredibly intricate design. Although the case is only 33.4 mm. in diameter, the movement nevertheless manages to contain 342 parts, including a micro-rotor and minute repeating mechanism. This is a horological feat that attests to the level of skill and innovation of Patek Philippe’s watchmakers. The movement provides a beautiful, clear and distinctive tone, particular to reference 3979 minute repeaters which are noted for their individual sonorous tones.
To the best of our knowledge, this exceptional minute repeater is the only example known with confirmed silvered dial with applied white gold Breguet numerals, and only the second white gold reference 3979 to be offered at international auction.
Reference 3979
One of the most important wristwatches ever made in series by Patek Philippe, reference 3979 was launched in 1989 to celebrate the house’s 150th anniversary. It was the first ever automatic minute repeater to be produced by Patek, and discontinued in 1998.
According to research, only 100 examples of this reference were ever produced, it was made in yellow gold, white gold and platinum, the majority in yellow gold, with approximately 12 pieces cased in white gold. Each watch was fitted with the ingeniously designed Calibre R 27 PS, which impresses with its small, but incredibly intricate design. Although the case is only 33.4 mm. in diameter, the movement nevertheless manages to contain 342 parts, including a micro-rotor and minute repeating mechanism. This is a horological feat that attests to the level of skill and innovation of Patek Philippe’s watchmakers. The movement provides a beautiful, clear and distinctive tone, particular to reference 3979 minute repeaters which are noted for their individual sonorous tones.