Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Du Rhone, Apr 02, 2006

LOT 524

Ref. 3970E ?Luminous Hands and Dots" Patek Philippe, Genève, No. 876270, case No. 2914533, Ref. 3970E. Sold on November 19, 1992. Very fine and exceptionally rare, astronomic, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with round button chronograph, register, perpetual calendar, moon phases and an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by a mahogany fitted box, certificate, spare solid back and setting pin, and a letter from Patek Philippe confirming the luminous hands and dot markers.

CHF 80,000 - 120,000

108 50,000 - 80,000

Sold: CHF 123,750

C. Three-body, solid, polished, screwed-down transparent case back, concave bezel, curved and fluted lugs, sapphire crystals. D. Matte silver with applied yellow gold bâton indexes, luminous dots, subsidiary "guilloché" dials for the seconds and the 24 hours, the 30-minute register and the leap year, graduation for the days of the month, outer 1/5th seconds scale, aperture for the days of the week, the months and the moon phases. Luminous yellow gold "feuille" hands. M. 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 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:
Case: 3-15

Good

Slightly rusted

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

This watch was delivered with luminous hands and dot markers at the owner?s request, as attested to in the Patek Philippe service document and letter. This watch was previously entered for sale in November 2005, however due to an incomplete description the sale was canceled and it is now being re-offered in the present sale.

Ref. 3970/ 3971 (1986-2005)
The 3970 was introduced, for Patek Philippe?s 150th anniversary, to replace the successful model Ref. 2499, which had been produced from 1951 to 1985. Thanks to the explosive popularity of collecting vintage Patek Philippe wristwatches during the early 1980s, collectors had discovered the extreme rarity and enduring value associated with these timepieces. In a rare breach of Patek?s legendary secrecy, it was discovered that fewer than 400 pieces of Ref. 2499 timepieces, including the last evolution, the Ref. 2499/100, had been manufactured during the model?s entire production. Patek Philippe also sensed the need for a more modern design of its flagship model, which had only undergone minor design revisions over a 30 year period. Antiquorum?s 1989 thematic auction ?The Art of Patek Philippe?, signaled the start of the company?s growing popularity among watch enthusiasts. Although Patek Philippe had always cultivated a discerning, loyal clientele, it was never a high profile brand. That changed dramatically as affluent individuals began purchasing modern Patek Philippe wristwatches to wear and enjoy. Consequently, thanks to the successful market of the late 1980s, the Ref. 3970 became a ?best seller? for Patek Philippe. Amazingly enough, only a handful of collectors recognized the true scarcity of certain variations for this watch, in particular, the endless possibilities for collecting Ref. 3970 by dial variation or different styled indexes and/ or hands.