Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 12, 2013

LOT 504

PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 3970 WHITE GOLD ? ONE OF THE LAST EXAMPLES EVER MADE Patek Philippe, Geneve, movement No. 3047323, case No. 4216228, Ref. 3970EG. Made in 2004, sold on March 9th, 2005. Very fine and important, water-resistant, 18K white gold wristwatch with round button chronograph, register, perpetual calendar, moon phases, leap year, 24-hour indication and an 18K white gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by the original Certificate of Origin, Patek Philippe box, hang-tag, spare transparent 18K white gold back, push-pin and the Extract from the Archives.

CHF 80,000 - 120,000

HKD 670,000 - 1,000,000 / USD 86,000 - 130,000

C. Three-body, solid, polished, concave bezel, fluted lugs, screw-down case back, sapphire crystal. D. Opaline white with applied white gold ?obus? indexes, subsidiary dials for the seconds and the 30-minute register, the days of the month, the 24 hours and the leap year, aperture for the days of the week, the months and the moon phases, outer 1/5 seconds/ minute divisions. White gold baton hands. M. Cal. CH 27-70/155 Q, stamped with the Seal of Geneva quality mark, rhodium plated, fausses cotes decoration, 24 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, Gyromax balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 8 positions, shock absorber, self compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 36 mm. THICKNESS 13 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2-8

Very good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 2*

Very good

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

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Sold with the original Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin dated March 9th, 2005, original tag, setting pin and spare transparent back also numbered 4216228. The Extract from the Archives confirms the date of manufacture in 2004 and the dial with white gold ?obus? indexes. The present watch is one of the last examples of the reference 3970 to be made. This reference was in production from 1986 until 2004 when it was replaced by the 5970. Since the discontinuation of this model it has become one of the most desirable of modern Patek Philippe watches for the serious collector. The model is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 305.