Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces

New York, Apr 25, 2012

LOT 404

PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 3974 MINUTE-REPEATING PERPETUAL CALENDAR PLATINUM Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 1906081, case No. 2954678, Ref. 3974. Made in 1992, sold November 16th, 1992. Extremely fine and rare, astronomic, minute repeating, self-winding, platinum wristwatch with perpetual calendar, leap year indication, moon phases and a platinum Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by the original Patek mahogany fitted box, spare platinum case back, Certificate of Origin, setting pin, booklets and the Extract from the Archives.

USD 600,000 - 800,000

EUR 455,000 - 610,000

Sold: USD 902,500

C. Three body, solid, polished, stepped bezel, transparent case back, sapphire crystals. D. Silver with applied white gold baton indexes, 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 fl at 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. Property of a Private Collector


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

The present lot is the property of a focused, long-term collector, and has been fastidiously well maintained and looked after. All hallmarks and lug details have been carefully preserved. The movement was recently serviced at Patek Philippe in Geneva and sealed by the company, as photographed. It is important to note the watch is stamped with the hallmark of the renowned case maker, Jean-Pierre Hagmann. On the occasion of Patek Philippe's 150th anniversary in 1989, the firm launched their first production minute-repeating perpetual calendar wristwatch, reference 3974. According to early 1990s Patek Philippe publications, each watch required four years of development and assembly and includes 467 parts. In addition to the minute-repeating and perpetual calendar complications, the 3974 was ingeniously designed with an automatic movement featuring the 22K gold micro-rotor. Manufactured in extremely small numbers, there are believed to be approximately 15 examples that were made in platinum. Now that reference 3974 is approaching 25 years old, the watch is gaining significant attention of enthusiasts worldwide, making it one of very few masterpieces by Patek Philippe that appeals to the most dedicated vintage and modern collectors. The watch has already joined models such as 2524 and 2499 as being part of a small group of truly legendary wristwatches from the 20th century.