The Art of Patek Philippe, Legendary ...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 14, 1999

LOT 614

Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, No. 1904007,case No 2865077, Ref. 3979, made in 1989.Very fine self-winding, minute repeating, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with an additional sapphire crystal back, leather strap and 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle in original mahogany fitted box, accompanied by original certificate.

CHF 200,000 - 240,000

Sold: CHF 245,500

C. three body, massive, polished, diamond-turned bezel. D. white porcelain dial with painted Roman numerals, auxiliary second dial. "Feuille" blued steel hands. M. Cal. R 27 PS, punched with the Poinçons de Genève, rhodium plated, "fausses côtes" decoration,39 jewels, lever escapement, Giromax balance adjusted for heat, cold isochronism and 5 positions, shock-absorber, free-sprung self-compensating balance spring, 22K gold micro-rotor, repeater on gongs by means of a slide on the band.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 34 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: * 2
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

Ref. 3979This series was produced in yellow gold only.Production began in 1989 with the calibre R 27 PS, featuring 342 components and bearing the serial number 1904000.The present watch with movement 1904007 is therefore the8th model of the series.It is a technical exploit to incorporate in a 12 1/2''' movement a micro-rotor oscillating mass together with a minute repeating mechanism.The first watch of this Ref. 3979 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches, by Martin Huber and Alan Banbery, 1998 Edition, p. 320.Poinçons de GenèveThe voluntary quality control of watches at the Geneva Observatory, was established by a law dated November 6, 1886. Conditions were laid down for the attribution and stamping of the Poinçons de Genève, punch-marks designed as the coat-of-arms of Geneva. Pocket watches, or wristwatches which carry the Poinçons de Genève, considered as an equivalent to a Bulletin Officiel de Marche, punched on a bridge and on the main plate of the movement, were qualified to be officially termed "chronometers".