Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Apr 25, 2021

LOT 128

PATEK PHILIPPE
Ref. 3970 / 002 P, chronograph, minute counter, perpetual calendar, leap-year indication, moon phases, pink colour dial with diamond-set indexes; platinum

HKD 1,900,000 - 2,307,500

USD 244,000 - 297,500 / CHF 226,700 - 276,500

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 counter (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)

Pink colour “semi-glossy” dial set with ten diamonds indexes (nine brilliant-cut diamonds and one baguette-cut diamond).

Additional silver colour “semi-glossy” dial, with platinum “Obus” indexes.


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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 39700 / 002 P

Year Circa 1994

Movement No. 876 851

Case No. 2 953 571

Bracelet integrated platinum Patek Philippe bracelet with clasp

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

Diameter 36.5 mm.

Dimensions Length 180 mm. (approx.)

Signature dial, case and movement

Accessories Extract from the Archives, Patek Philippe repair invoice (dated Milano, October 27, 2009)

Notes

The Extract from the Archives, dated March 16, 2010, mentioned that this watch was made in 1994 and sold on September 19, 1994.
--
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.