Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Jul 23, 2020

LOT 373

Patek Philippe
Reference 3970 EP-019, chronograph, minute recorder, perpetual calendar, leap-year indicator, moon phases, black colour dial with diamond-set indexes; platinum

HKD 600,000 - 800,000

CHF 73,200 - 97,600 / USD 78,000 - 104,000

Platinum, round-shaped, gentleman’s wristwatch, water-resistant with sapphire-crystal screwed case-back, subsidiary seconds at 9 and nine horological complications:
• 1/5 second chronograph with round push-pieces
• Half-instantaneous 30-minute recorder (subsidiary dial at 3 o’clock)
• Half-instantaneous perpetual calendar à guichets (with apertures)
• Date of the month (subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock)
• Day of the week (aperture at 11 o’clock; indications given in English)
• Month of the year (aperture at 1 o’clock; indications given in English)
• Four-year cycle of leap-years (subsidiary dial at 3 o’clock)
• Phases of the moon (aperture at 6 o’clock)
• Diurnal (day-time) and nocturnal (night-time) hours with a 24-hour(AM-PM) scale (subsidiary dial at 9 o’clock)
Black colour “semi-glossy” dial set with ten diamonds indexes (nine brilliant-cut diamonds and one baguette-cut diamond).


Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good

Movement: 1*

As new

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Brand Patek Philippe, Geneva

Reference 3970 EP-019

Year circa 1998-2002

Movement No. 3 046 773

Case No. 4 197 836

Bracelet black leather Patek Philippe strap, platinum Patek Philippe “Calatrava” deployant clasp

Caliber CH 27-70 Q, adjusted to heat, cold isochronism and 8 positions, Geneva Quality Hall Mark

Dimensions Ø37mm.

Signature dial, case and movement

Accessories certificate of origin, instruction booklet, 18K white gold and wood setting-pin

Notes

Patek Philippe, Ref. 3970 and Ref. 3971
This reference is launched in 1986.
The production of this model began with the Cal. 27-70 Q bearing the serial number 875 000.
When Patek Philippe first launched this new series of watches, Ref. 3970 was the model bearing a metallic snap-on case-back, while Ref. 3971 was equipped with a screwed down sapphire case-back.
Very soon, the reference number of this model was standardised to Ref. 3970, sold either with one or two screwed down case-backs; one of these backs could be a screwed down metallic case-back, while the second, (non-compulsory), a screwed sapphire crystal case-back.
In consequence, very few watches bear Ref. 3971.
Bibliography
- Huber, Martin, & Banbery, Alan, Patek Philippe Wristwatches, 1998, p. 305.