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Lot Essay
With Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin dated 23 February 1990, leather pouch, Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with opaline-gilt dial and gold indexes in 1989 and its subsequent sale on 22 March 1990.
The present reference 3971 must be considered one of the most important and rarest collector's wristwatches dating from the second half of the 1980's. At the time, a perpetual calendar wristwatch with chronograph and moon phase indication represented the pinnacle in terms of complications and the "3970-family" was a must for the educated aficionado. 3971 is a very rare variant of reference of reference 3970 as it was always and exclusively fitted with a glazed screw-back. It was fitted with a silvered dial and featured the typical baton hour markers.
This example however is one of an extremely small series fitted with a wonderful champagne-colored opaline dial. Being offered for sale for the first time ever and directly by the first owner, this watch has never seen any wear but rather spent all of its life in a bank vault. Consequently, its overall condition is what one can described as "mint".
In-depth research shows that less than a handful of examples of references 3971 with this dial are known today, rendering it a gem for the discerning collector.
The present reference 3971 must be considered one of the most important and rarest collector's wristwatches dating from the second half of the 1980's. At the time, a perpetual calendar wristwatch with chronograph and moon phase indication represented the pinnacle in terms of complications and the "3970-family" was a must for the educated aficionado. 3971 is a very rare variant of reference of reference 3970 as it was always and exclusively fitted with a glazed screw-back. It was fitted with a silvered dial and featured the typical baton hour markers.
This example however is one of an extremely small series fitted with a wonderful champagne-colored opaline dial. Being offered for sale for the first time ever and directly by the first owner, this watch has never seen any wear but rather spent all of its life in a bank vault. Consequently, its overall condition is what one can described as "mint".
In-depth research shows that less than a handful of examples of references 3971 with this dial are known today, rendering it a gem for the discerning collector.