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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1996 and its subsequent sale on April 11th of the same year.
Further accompanied by a Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin dated June of 1997, wooden presenation box, additional hard back, tie tag, setting pin, and outer packaging.
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 renamed the 3970E (E for étanche or waterproof). The third series of this reference was produced with a screw back and extra sapphire back. The fourth series, of which the present watch is a fine example of, was the same as the third series but with a new serial numbers range.
Ref. 3970 in platinum was commonly available either with the plain silvered dial, featuring faceted baton numerals, or with the dial displaying diamond hour markers. However, both "white" versions (white gold and platinum respectively), are also known to have been delivered with the rare black dial variant, featuring faceted baton markers. This despite the fact that the present watch was, according to its original cert, delivered with the silvered dial, it was most likely after its original purchase upgraded by the owner's specific request with the rare dial version (black with baton markers). To date, less than a dozen platinum ref. 3970 are known with this dial configuration.
The reference 3970 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by M. Huber and A. Banbery, Second Edition, Page 305.
Further accompanied by a Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin dated June of 1997, wooden presenation box, additional hard back, tie tag, setting pin, and outer packaging.
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 renamed the 3970E (E for étanche or waterproof). The third series of this reference was produced with a screw back and extra sapphire back. The fourth series, of which the present watch is a fine example of, was the same as the third series but with a new serial numbers range.
Ref. 3970 in platinum was commonly available either with the plain silvered dial, featuring faceted baton numerals, or with the dial displaying diamond hour markers. However, both "white" versions (white gold and platinum respectively), are also known to have been delivered with the rare black dial variant, featuring faceted baton markers. This despite the fact that the present watch was, according to its original cert, delivered with the silvered dial, it was most likely after its original purchase upgraded by the owner's specific request with the rare dial version (black with baton markers). To date, less than a dozen platinum ref. 3970 are known with this dial configuration.
The reference 3970 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by M. Huber and A. Banbery, Second Edition, Page 305.