Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

New York, Oct 17, 2008

LOT 125

White Gold and Diamonds, Ref. 3990, Luminous Hands Patek Philippe, Genève, Ref. 3990. Made circa 1997. Very fine and important,water-resistant, 18Kwhite goldwristwatchwith diamond-set bezel and dial, round button chronograph, register, perpetual calendar, moon phases and a 18K white gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by the Certificate of Origin, original fitted box, spare case back, and setting pin.

USD 200,000 - 300,000

EUR 140,000 - 210,000 / CHF 220,000 - 335,000

C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, concave bezel, fluted lugs, transparent screwed-down case back, sapphire crystals. D. Black with applied diamond-set white gold indexes, subsidiary dials for the seconds, the 30-minute register, the days of the month, the 24 hours and leap year, apertures for the days of the week, the months and moon phases, outer minute 1/5th seconds division with five Arabic numerals. Luminous white gold feuille hands. M. Cal. CH 27-70/155, stamped with the Seal of Geneva Quality Mark, rhodiumplated, fausses cotes decoration, 24 jewels, straight line lever escapement, Gyromax balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 8 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness 13 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

Ref. 3990 This reference is technically identical to Ref. 3970E, which started production in 1986. It is Patek Philippe's first chronograph and perpetual calendar watch set with diamonds. The case is set with 40 tapered, baguette-shaped Top Wesselton quality diamonds with an approx. carat weight of 2.80 ct. The chronograph mechanism features a column wheel for a most reliable and precise performance and the perpetual calendar will need adjustment only in the year 2100. The reference 3990 is characterized by its diamond bezel and luminous hands. It was produced in extremely limited numbers. To the best of our knowledge only three other 3990s have ever been offered at auction; this is the first white gold example to be offered.