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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.
In 1989, when the reference 3974 was launched, it was the world’s most complicated wristwatch. With only around 160 examples ever made in total, it is not only one of the rarest, but one of the most technically sophisticated Patek Grande Complications of the period.
The present self-winding minute repeating perpetual calendar moon phase wristwatch, is not only one of the very rare white gold versions, but also has a case made by the legendary Jean-Pierre Hagmann – a great rarity in itself.
Of all the examples of reference 3974 manufactured, the majority were crafted in yellow gold, platinum, pink gold and less than 12 pieces in white gold, with only 2 example resurfacing at auction so far.
The Case
Early specimens of the model such as the present watch had their impressive cases of highest quality supplied by the famous casemaker Jean-Pierre Hagmann of Geneva, his hallmark JPH stamped underneath the lower left lug. Later examples were fitted with Patek Philippe’s in-house Atéliers Réunis cases.
Originally trained as a jeweller, Jean-Pierre Hagmann set up his own company in 1984, specializing in the manufacture of custom-made high quality watch cases. He worked for several of the world's most famous watch manufactures, notably Patek Philippe, to whom he supplied amongst others, cases for references 3974, 3979, 5016 and 5029, all models of the firm's ’Grand Complication’ series.
The Movement
The ingenious calibre 27 RQ impresses not only by its remarkable number of 467 parts but also by Patek Philippe's masterly performance of combining a 22K micro-rotor, minute repeating, perpetual calendar, 24-hour indication and phases of the moon mechanisms in a proportionally small 12 ½ ligne movement. Reference 3974 has become a modern classic epitomizing the strengths and wonderful acoustics of Patek Philippe minute repeaters. This highly sought-after reference ceased production in 2000 and is regarded as one of the most desirable minute repeating wristwatches of the last 30 years.
Reference 3974
One of the most important watches ever made in series by Patek Philippe, reference 3974 was launched in 1989 to celebrate Patek Philippe's 150th anniversary, at the time not only the firm's but also the world's most complicated wristwatch. The very first movement was numbered 1'906'000. The ingenious calibre 27 RQ impresses not only by its remarkable number of 467 parts but also by Patek Philippe's masterly performance of combining a 22K micro-rotor, minute repeating, perpetual calendar, 24-hour indication and phases of the moon mechanisms in a proportionally small 12 1/2''' movement. The cases of the early examples, such as the present, were made by Jean-Pierre Hagmann, bearing his hallmark. Later series were fitted with Atéliers Réunis cases.
A timepiece of wonderful appeal and true rarity, the reference ceased production in 2000 and is regarded as one of the most desirable minute repeating wristwatches of modern production. Reference 3974 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Watches - Patek Philippe Museum, Vol. II, p. 325, and in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 325. Other
In 1989, when the reference 3974 was launched, it was the world’s most complicated wristwatch. With only around 160 examples ever made in total, it is not only one of the rarest, but one of the most technically sophisticated Patek Grande Complications of the period.
The present self-winding minute repeating perpetual calendar moon phase wristwatch, is not only one of the very rare white gold versions, but also has a case made by the legendary Jean-Pierre Hagmann – a great rarity in itself.
Of all the examples of reference 3974 manufactured, the majority were crafted in yellow gold, platinum, pink gold and less than 12 pieces in white gold, with only 2 example resurfacing at auction so far.
The Case
Early specimens of the model such as the present watch had their impressive cases of highest quality supplied by the famous casemaker Jean-Pierre Hagmann of Geneva, his hallmark JPH stamped underneath the lower left lug. Later examples were fitted with Patek Philippe’s in-house Atéliers Réunis cases.
Originally trained as a jeweller, Jean-Pierre Hagmann set up his own company in 1984, specializing in the manufacture of custom-made high quality watch cases. He worked for several of the world's most famous watch manufactures, notably Patek Philippe, to whom he supplied amongst others, cases for references 3974, 3979, 5016 and 5029, all models of the firm's ’Grand Complication’ series.
The Movement
The ingenious calibre 27 RQ impresses not only by its remarkable number of 467 parts but also by Patek Philippe's masterly performance of combining a 22K micro-rotor, minute repeating, perpetual calendar, 24-hour indication and phases of the moon mechanisms in a proportionally small 12 ½ ligne movement. Reference 3974 has become a modern classic epitomizing the strengths and wonderful acoustics of Patek Philippe minute repeaters. This highly sought-after reference ceased production in 2000 and is regarded as one of the most desirable minute repeating wristwatches of the last 30 years.
Reference 3974
One of the most important watches ever made in series by Patek Philippe, reference 3974 was launched in 1989 to celebrate Patek Philippe's 150th anniversary, at the time not only the firm's but also the world's most complicated wristwatch. The very first movement was numbered 1'906'000. The ingenious calibre 27 RQ impresses not only by its remarkable number of 467 parts but also by Patek Philippe's masterly performance of combining a 22K micro-rotor, minute repeating, perpetual calendar, 24-hour indication and phases of the moon mechanisms in a proportionally small 12 1/2''' movement. The cases of the early examples, such as the present, were made by Jean-Pierre Hagmann, bearing his hallmark. Later series were fitted with Atéliers Réunis cases.
A timepiece of wonderful appeal and true rarity, the reference ceased production in 2000 and is regarded as one of the most desirable minute repeating wristwatches of modern production. Reference 3974 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Watches - Patek Philippe Museum, Vol. II, p. 325, and in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 325. Other