Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

New York, Dec 09, 2009

LOT 402

Patek Philippe Ref. 3974 Platinum Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 1906099, case No. 2972570, Ref. 3974. Made in 1999, sold June 29th, 2000. Extremely fine and rare, astronomic, minute repeating, self-winding, platinum wristwatch with perpetual calendar, leap year indication, moon phases, with a platinum Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by the original Patek mahogany fitted box, spare platinum case back, the Extract from the Archives, and the two additional dials mentioned in the Extract.

USD 0 - 0

Sold: USD 1,200,000

C. Three body, solid, polished, stepped bezel, transparent case back, sapphire crystals. D. Black with applied white gold Breguet numerals, outer dot minute divisions, subsidiary dials for the days of the month, of the week, the 24 hours indication (A.M. - P.M.), the months and the leap year, aperture for the moon phases. White gold dauphine hands. M. Cal. R 27 Q, stamped with the Seal of Geneva quality mark, rhodium plated, fausses cotes decoration, 39 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, Gyromax balance adjusted to heat, cold isochronism and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating free-sprung flat balance spring, 22K gold micro-rotor. Repeating on gongs by activating slide on the band. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness 12 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

The Patek Philippe Ref. 3974 was discontinued in 1999. This reference is regarded by many collectors as being the most desirable modern complicated Patek Philippe, due its magnificent large double stepped case and lugs (reminiscent of the reference 2499) and its rare and appreciated combination of a self-winding and perpetual calendar minute-repeating watch. According to our research, there have been approximately 11 platinum 3974's produced and so far only four have appeared on the market. Of these four only one has been known with a second dial making this watch the only known of this reference to have been born with 3 dials as confirmed by the extract from the archives.