Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Jun 27, 2015

LOT 482

THE VERY FIRST PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 3970 EVER PRODUCED NUMBER 000 Patek Philippe, Genève, No. 875000, case No. 2824130, Ref. 3970. Made in 1986. Very fine and extremely rare, astronomic, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with round button chronograph, register, perpetual calendar, moon phases, snap-on back, two-tone dial and an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by Certificate of Origin .

HKD 1,160,000 - 2,000,000

USD 150,000 - 250,000 / CHF 140,000 - 230,000

Sold: HKD 1,590,000

Three-body, solid, polished, concave bezel, fluted curved lugs. Two-tone silver with applied yellow gold indexes, subsidiary dials for the seconds, the 24-hour and 30-minute register, the leap year and the days of the month, apertures for the day, months and moon phases. Yellow gold "feuille" hands. Cal. 27-70 Q, stamped with the Geneva Quality Hallmark, rhodium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 24 jewels, straight line lever escapement, Gyromax balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, shock-absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance-spring.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 36 mm. THICKNESS 12 mm. THE REFERENCE 3970 has become a modern classic following the footsteps of the brand's flagship complication models with perpetual calendar, chronograph, and moonphase - Ref. 1518 (1941-1952), Ref. 2499 & 2499/100 (1951-1986). In 1986, Patek Philippe made a bold choice to retire its revered Ref. 2499 after over 30 years of success. The Ref. 3970 showcased what the brand does best: Updating to a contemporary design while staying true to its refined aesthetics. The timing of the introduction of this new reference coincided with the robust global economy in the late 1980's, quickly making it a best-seller and reaching an iconic status in its own right. THE CURRENT LOT IS THE VERY FIRST REF. 3970 PRODUCED, showing "000" at the end of its movement number (#875'000). Such rarified pieces are often reserved for the Patek Museum or for the Stern family which makes this extraordinary piece a "must" in one's collection.