PATEK PHILIPPE. A VERY FINE AND RARE 18K WHITE GOLD AUTOMATIC PERPETUAL CALENDAR WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES, DAY, DATE, MONTH AND 24 HOUR INDICATION

Many of the watches offered for sale in this catal… Read more

PATEK PHILIPPERef. 3940Reference 3940Reference 3940, the quintessential perpetual calendar and distinguished by its timeless elegance, is undeniably amongst Patek Philippe's greatest classics. Launched in 1984 as replacement for reference 3450, it was at the time the slimmest automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch. An initial series of around 100 pieces were manufactured between 1984 and 1985, as of 1985, reference 3940 went into standard production. Until the model's discontinuation in 2007 when it was replaced by reference 5140 three further series were produced.The main design variants between earlier and later series include sunken subsidiary dials as opposed to the rather beveled version and a plain leap year dial rather than the one with the quarter separations. Earlier models featured a smaller signature, the designation "Swiss" was printed underneath the beady minute divisions. This was changed in later series with the "Swiss" printing within the ring.Examples of reference 3940 are illustrated and described in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches - Volume II, p. 300, and in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp 292 - 294.The Property of a Private Swiss Collector

PATEK PHILIPPE. A VERY FINE AND RARE 18K WHITE GOLD AUTOMATIC PERPETUAL CALENDAR WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES, DAY, DATE, MONTH AND 24 HOUR INDICATION

SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE, GENEVE, REF. 3940G-013, MOVEMENT NO. 3’127’348, CASE NO. 4’260’783, MANUFACTURED IN 2004

Details

PATEK PHILIPPE. A VERY FINE AND RARE 18K WHITE GOLD AUTOMATIC PERPETUAL CALENDAR WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES, DAY, DATE, MONTH AND 24 HOUR INDICATION
SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE, GENEVE, REF. 3940G-013, MOVEMENT NO. 3’127’348, CASE NO. 4’260’783, MANUFACTURED IN 2004
Movement: cal. 240 Q, automatic, 27 jewels, signed
Dial: signed
Case: glazed display snap on back, 36 mm. diam., signed
With: 18K white gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp, Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 18K white gold case, opaline dial, white gold lapped indexes and dot minute track in 2004 and its subsequent sale on 5 October 2004

Special Notice

Many of the watches offered for sale in this catalogue are pictured with straps made of endangered or protected animal materials such as alligator or crocodile. These endangered species straps are shown for display purposes only and are not for sale. Christie’s will remove and retain the strap prior to shipment from the sale site. At some sale sites, Christie’s may, at its discretion, make the displayed endangered species strap available to the buyer of the lot free of charge if collected in person from the sale site within 1 year of the date of the sale. Please check with the department for details on a particular lot.

Brought to you by

Sabine Kegel

skegel@christies.com +41 (0) 22 319 17 23

Lot Essay

This endangered species strap is shown for display purposes only and is not for sale. The watch will be supplied with a calf leather strap.

The present reference 3940 is a well-preserved example of the last series of the reference and furthermore the very last example of the model made. Consigned by a private Swiss collector it has never been offered in public before.

The elegant case of highest quality was made by Calame & Cie SA in La Chaux-de-Fonds, there Hallmark 357 within a hammer head is punched to the inside of the case back. The stamp with hammer without handle is used for gold and platinum watch cases made in Switzerland but outside of Geneva.

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