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Lot Essay
One of the most elegant and understated of Patek Philippe’s Grand Complication timepieces of recent times, reference 3939 unites the exquisitely sonorous charms of a two-gong minute repeater with the gravity-defying precision of a tourbillon escapement. Launched in 1993 and produced until 2009, the reference 3939 is one of the very few Patek Philippe models to feature an enamel dial with Breguet numerals. Available in all three gold versions and in platinum, only around 200 pieces were ever made and only 65 examples in platinum, of which approximately 20 are known to have returned to the market.
Accompanied by the full set of accessories, the present watch is reference 3939HP-001. The ‘H’ for ‘Haute’, meaning that the case is slightly higher in order to accommodate the half-round longer Cathedral gongs of the magnificent caliber RTO 27 PS movement.
A fascinating aspect of reference 3939 is that Patek Philippe insisted that each watch of the series was tested for precision timekeeping and to achieve a C.O.S.C. certificate for superlative accuracy – a remarkable achievement in a complicated watch because any additional function in a watch, such as minute repeating, often adversely affects its timekeeping qualities. The rationale for this was that Patek Philippe treats the tourbillon, not as a novelty, but as a serious chronometric device. For many years, Patek Philippe was the only brand to subject their tourbillon watches to such rigorous testing.
In keeping with its eternal style, reference 3939 ignored the trend of the time for larger cases, measuring 34mm in diameter, it is a feat of technical excellence that makes it a watch of immense sophistication. As with all Patek Philippe minute repeaters, the present watch had to pass one final test before being handed over to its future owner – the company’s then President Philippe Stern, personally checked to confirm that the sound of its chiming was worthy of the firm's exemplary standards. In the tranquility of his office, Mr. Stern listened to the sound of each watch to assure the inimitable richness of timbre that is one of the trademarks of Patek Philippe's minute repeating wristwatches.
The Donzé Enamel Dial
A close inspection of the dial reveals that the under 6 o’clock the Swiss has a triangle, or delta, on each side in black. It is known that 3939 enamel dials from this period were made by Donzé Cadrans S.A. in Le Locle, Switzerland. The surprising element of this dial is that it is believed that Donzé placed the ‘Delta’ triangles on the dial as a sort of secret signature of his work, D for Delta for Donzé. These marks are easily mistaken for the APRIOR, or sigma marks, seen on dials made with gold elements. Interestingly, the 3939 dials were made with gold base plates but did not have the APRIOR mark.
Master Enameller Francis Donzé started his family company in 1972 and his niche business soon became a supplier of enamel dials to many of the most important watchmaking companies in the world, in particular Patek Philippe. In 1987, Mr. Donzé retired and his family continued the business of traditional enamel dial making. In 2012, Ulysse Nardin acquired Donzé Cadrans.
Accompanied by the full set of accessories, the present watch is reference 3939HP-001. The ‘H’ for ‘Haute’, meaning that the case is slightly higher in order to accommodate the half-round longer Cathedral gongs of the magnificent caliber RTO 27 PS movement.
A fascinating aspect of reference 3939 is that Patek Philippe insisted that each watch of the series was tested for precision timekeeping and to achieve a C.O.S.C. certificate for superlative accuracy – a remarkable achievement in a complicated watch because any additional function in a watch, such as minute repeating, often adversely affects its timekeeping qualities. The rationale for this was that Patek Philippe treats the tourbillon, not as a novelty, but as a serious chronometric device. For many years, Patek Philippe was the only brand to subject their tourbillon watches to such rigorous testing.
In keeping with its eternal style, reference 3939 ignored the trend of the time for larger cases, measuring 34mm in diameter, it is a feat of technical excellence that makes it a watch of immense sophistication. As with all Patek Philippe minute repeaters, the present watch had to pass one final test before being handed over to its future owner – the company’s then President Philippe Stern, personally checked to confirm that the sound of its chiming was worthy of the firm's exemplary standards. In the tranquility of his office, Mr. Stern listened to the sound of each watch to assure the inimitable richness of timbre that is one of the trademarks of Patek Philippe's minute repeating wristwatches.
The Donzé Enamel Dial
A close inspection of the dial reveals that the under 6 o’clock the Swiss has a triangle, or delta, on each side in black. It is known that 3939 enamel dials from this period were made by Donzé Cadrans S.A. in Le Locle, Switzerland. The surprising element of this dial is that it is believed that Donzé placed the ‘Delta’ triangles on the dial as a sort of secret signature of his work, D for Delta for Donzé. These marks are easily mistaken for the APRIOR, or sigma marks, seen on dials made with gold elements. Interestingly, the 3939 dials were made with gold base plates but did not have the APRIOR mark.
Master Enameller Francis Donzé started his family company in 1972 and his niche business soon became a supplier of enamel dials to many of the most important watchmaking companies in the world, in particular Patek Philippe. In 1987, Mr. Donzé retired and his family continued the business of traditional enamel dial making. In 2012, Ulysse Nardin acquired Donzé Cadrans.