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Lot Essay
One of the most elegant and understated grand complication timepieces of recent time, reference 3939 unites the sonorous charms of a two-gong minute repeater with the gravity-defying precision of a tourbillon escapement. In keeping with its eternal style, reference 3939 ignores the contemporary trend for larger cases, measuring 34 mm. in diameter, an achievement for such a technically sophisticated timepiece. It is also one of Patek Philippe's exceedingly rare references featuring an enamel dial, furthermore blessed with the much sought after Breguet numerals. And last but not least as any of its minute repeating peers, the present watch had to pass a final test before being handed over to its future owner.
Since Patek Philippe launched the production of these cherished timepieces in 1989, not a single one left the workshop before Philippe Stern, the company's president until 2009, now honorable president, deemed its chiming of the hour worthy of the firm's high standards. In the tranquility of his office, he listened to the sounds of each watch to assure the inimitable richness of timbre that, as the Calatrava cross, is one of the trademarks of Patek Philippe's minute repeating wristwatches. Reference 3939 was officially launched in 1993 and remained in production until 2009, available in all three gold versions and in platinum.
In 2010 it was replaced by reference 5339, so far exclusively cased in pink gold.
Reference 3939 with movement no. 1'903'000 and calibre RTO 27 PS was never sold, given to the Patek Philippe Museum and is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 330
Since Patek Philippe launched the production of these cherished timepieces in 1989, not a single one left the workshop before Philippe Stern, the company's president until 2009, now honorable president, deemed its chiming of the hour worthy of the firm's high standards. In the tranquility of his office, he listened to the sounds of each watch to assure the inimitable richness of timbre that, as the Calatrava cross, is one of the trademarks of Patek Philippe's minute repeating wristwatches. Reference 3939 was officially launched in 1993 and remained in production until 2009, available in all three gold versions and in platinum.
In 2010 it was replaced by reference 5339, so far exclusively cased in pink gold.
Reference 3939 with movement no. 1'903'000 and calibre RTO 27 PS was never sold, given to the Patek Philippe Museum and is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 330