Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces

New York, Apr 25, 2012

LOT 50

PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 3971 YELLOW GOLD Patek Philippe, Genève, No. 875450, case No. 2856541, Ref. 3971E. Made in 1989. Very fine and rare, astronomic, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers, perpetual calendar, moon phases and an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by a fitted box, the Extract of the Archives and setting pin.

USD 80,000 - 120,000

EUR 60,000 - 90,000

Sold: USD 92,500

C. Two-body, solid, polished, concave bezel, fl uted lugs, screw down transparent case back, sapphire crystals. D. Matte silver with applied yellow gold baton indexes, outer minute/seconds and 1/5th seconds divisions, subsidiary dials for the seconds, the 24 hours and the 30 minute register, the leap year and the days of the month, apertures for the days of the week, the months and the moon phases. Yellow gold feuille hands. M. Cal. 27-70 Q, stamped with the Seal of Geneva quality mark, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 24 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, Gyromax balance adjusted for 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.


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

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

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

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

In 1986, Patek Philippe released reference 3971 and 3970 as the immediate successors of the legendary model, reference 2499 (the last incarnation being reference 2499/100). Reference 3971 was produced with a sapphire display back while reference 3970 was produced with a solid case back. By 1991, production ceased on both references and the model was re-launched as 3970E, which used the same caliber 27-70Q movement as its predecessors, but was sold with both the solid case back and the sapphire crystal display back. As a result of the brief production cycle, Patek Philippe reference 3971 were made in very few numbers, rarely appear at auction, and are becoming highly sought after by both vintage and modern Patek Philippe collectors. Patek Philippe confi rm production of the present lot in 1989 and its subsequent sale on December 4th, 1989.