Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces

New York, Jun 12, 2012

LOT 268

PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 3974 YELLOW GOLD Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 1906057, case No. Ref. 3974. Made in 1992, sold November 16th, 1992. Extremely fine and rare, astronomic, minute repeating, self-winding, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with perpetual calendar, leap year indication, moon phases and an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by the original Patek mahogany fitted box, Certificate of Origin, and setting pin.

USD 250,000 - 400,000

CHF 230,000 - 370,000 / EUR 200,000 - 300,000

Sold: USD 380,500

C. Three body, solid, polished, stepped bezel, transparent case back, sapphire crystals. D. Silver with applied yellow 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. Yellow 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 freesprung 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 North American Collector


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

On the occasion of Patek Philippe's 150th anniversary in 1989, the fi rm launched their fi rst 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 minuterepeating and perpetual calendar complications, the 3974 was ingeniously designed with an automatic movement featuring the 22K gold micro-rotor. Now that reference 3974 is approaching 25 years old, the watch is gaining signifi cant 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.