Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Mar 17, 2013

LOT 548

PATEK PHILIPPE, REF. 3970E YELLOW GOLD, 2ND SERIES Patek Philippe, Genève, movement No. 875872, case No. 2837143, Ref. 3970E. Sold on July 24th, 1991. Very fine, water-resistant, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with round button chronograph, register, perpetual calendar, moon phases, leap year indication, 24-hour indication and an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by the certificate of origin, original Patek Philippe fitted box and setting pin Property of The Original Owner

CHF 75,000 - 85,000

USD 82,000 - 92,000 / EUR 61,000 - 69,000

Sold: CHF 88,900

C. Two-body, solid, polished and brushed, concave bezel, fluted lugs, screw down case back, sapphire crystal. D. Silver with applied yellow gold baton 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 and the months in English and the moon phases. Yellow gold feuille hands. M. Cal. CH 27-70 Q, stamped with the Seal of Geneva Quality Mark, rhodium- plated, fausses cotes decoration, 24 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, free-sprung Gyromax balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 8 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 36 mm. THICKNESS 13 mm


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2-8

Very good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

Bought new by the current owner at Gubelin in St-Moritz in 1991, this watch is instantly recognisable as a second series due to its feuille hands which were later replaced in the third series by baton hands. Furthermore after the first series was discontinued featuring a snap-on back, the second series was further characterized by a full screw-down caseback only. It was only on the launch of the next series that the watch was supplied with both backs (including the sapphire one), and this can be further demonstrated by the fact that the original box was only fitted with a setting pin and didn?t have the lip in the box to hold the caseback as found in later series. The excellent condition of the piece is displayed in the clean, clear hallmarks found on the outside of each lug which are often prone to disappear on examples that were too worn or polished.