Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Certificat d'Origine dated 15 August 1990 and Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1990 and its subsequent sale on 16 August 1990. Furthermore delivered with Patek Philippe 18K gold and wooden setting pin and burgundy presentation box.
To the best of our knowledge, this watch has never been offered in public before.
Reference 3941 is possibly the rarest variant of the yellow gold 3940 self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch series. In fact, since the launch of this model family in 1985, less than one in five watches are references 3941 having returned to the market.
Since the glazed backs were not numbered, Patek Philippe chose instead to apply the case number inside the upper case part, underneath the bezel. The rarity of the present watch is further underlined by the presence of the original certificate.
Manufacture of references 3940 and 3941 was launched in 1985, the difference between the two reference numbers being their backs:
- ref. 3940: plain snap on back
- ref. 3941: glazed snap on back
To respond to their customers increasing demand for two backs, Patek Philippe produced the model as of around 1988 with both the plain and the glazed snap on back. Consequently, production of reference 3941 was discontinued in 1990.
The model is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 292 & 293.
To the best of our knowledge, this watch has never been offered in public before.
Reference 3941 is possibly the rarest variant of the yellow gold 3940 self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch series. In fact, since the launch of this model family in 1985, less than one in five watches are references 3941 having returned to the market.
Since the glazed backs were not numbered, Patek Philippe chose instead to apply the case number inside the upper case part, underneath the bezel. The rarity of the present watch is further underlined by the presence of the original certificate.
Manufacture of references 3940 and 3941 was launched in 1985, the difference between the two reference numbers being their backs:
- ref. 3940: plain snap on back
- ref. 3941: glazed snap on back
To respond to their customers increasing demand for two backs, Patek Philippe produced the model as of around 1988 with both the plain and the glazed snap on back. Consequently, production of reference 3941 was discontinued in 1990.
The model is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp. 292 & 293.