.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1989 and its subsequent sale on June 22nd of the same year.
To the best of our knowledge this watch has never before been offered in public.
Patek Philippe launched the reference 3970 in 1986 with a solid snap on back. Shortly thereafter the 3970 with a solid screw back was added and given the reference number 3970E (E for étanche or waterproof). Patek Philippe launcehd a year later in 1987 a version fitted with a sapphire crystal screw back the reference 3971E. Whereas the references 3970-3971 were for over 20 years one of PP's top of the line signature pieces, the vast majority, either cased in yellow gold, pink gold, white gold, or platinum, were, except for some dial variants, of standard production. Examples like the present watch, featuring a distinguished retailer's signature, are the exception.
Patek Philippe began in 1851 under the guidance of the companies' owners, Charles Louis Tiffany and Antoine Norbert de Patek. In 1854 Tiffany & Co. began introducing Patek Philippe watches to the American market including some of the rarest models.
The present reference 3971E is one of only 8 known examples of this model in pink gold and furthermore, the only example ever seen from this rare series with the distinguished retailer's signature Tiffany & Co..
To the best of our knowledge this watch has never before been offered in public.
Patek Philippe launched the reference 3970 in 1986 with a solid snap on back. Shortly thereafter the 3970 with a solid screw back was added and given the reference number 3970E (E for étanche or waterproof). Patek Philippe launcehd a year later in 1987 a version fitted with a sapphire crystal screw back the reference 3971E. Whereas the references 3970-3971 were for over 20 years one of PP's top of the line signature pieces, the vast majority, either cased in yellow gold, pink gold, white gold, or platinum, were, except for some dial variants, of standard production. Examples like the present watch, featuring a distinguished retailer's signature, are the exception.
Patek Philippe began in 1851 under the guidance of the companies' owners, Charles Louis Tiffany and Antoine Norbert de Patek. In 1854 Tiffany & Co. began introducing Patek Philippe watches to the American market including some of the rarest models.
The present reference 3971E is one of only 8 known examples of this model in pink gold and furthermore, the only example ever seen from this rare series with the distinguished retailer's signature Tiffany & Co..