98Σ
Patek Philippe
Ref. 3974
A very rare and attractive yellow gold minute repeating perpetual calendar wristwatch with phases of the moon, retailed by Beyer
- Estimate
- CHF250,000 - 400,000€230,000 - 367,000$258,000 - 412,000
CHF514,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Patek Philippe
- Year
- 1990
- Reference No
- 3974
- Movement No
- 1'906’022
- Case No
- 2'867’119
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal R27Q, 39 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Crocodile
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe pin buckle, further accompanied by an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe deployant buckle
- Dimensions
- 36mm. Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial and movement signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by original Certificate of Origin, Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1990 and its subsequent sale on November 20, 1990, second caseback, setting pin, 18K yellow gold deployant buckle, Patek Philippe leather pouch and product literature.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Patek Philippe discontinued the reference in 2000, and given the complexity to produce such a fine timepiece, very few examples were made over its 11-year production period. Scholarship indicates that less than 30 yellow gold reference 3974 are known today to the market. It was a milestone in the history of “grand complication” timepieces with its highly legible perpetual calendar indications.
Inside the solid case back and underneath one of the lugs are three letters very well known to scholars and passionate collectors: JPH, standing for Jean-Pierre Hagmann. The living legend of case makers is the man behind the cases of reference 3974. Patek Philippe turned to him for the smallest but also most complex case projects. Hagmann is not only known for his immense talent as a craftsman but the cases he made for repeating watches are considered the very best in their league.
The pristine state of preservation of the present lot, along with the presence of its original papers indicating its sale by Chronometrie Beyer in Zurich, Certificate of Origin, second case back, and setting pin together make this one of the best and most complete examples to appear at auction.
The reference 3974 can be considered a true masterpiece for the world’s finest collectors and a milestone in the history of modern watchmaking – a true trophy watch for the connoisseur.
Inside the solid case back and underneath one of the lugs are three letters very well known to scholars and passionate collectors: JPH, standing for Jean-Pierre Hagmann. The living legend of case makers is the man behind the cases of reference 3974. Patek Philippe turned to him for the smallest but also most complex case projects. Hagmann is not only known for his immense talent as a craftsman but the cases he made for repeating watches are considered the very best in their league.
The pristine state of preservation of the present lot, along with the presence of its original papers indicating its sale by Chronometrie Beyer in Zurich, Certificate of Origin, second case back, and setting pin together make this one of the best and most complete examples to appear at auction.
The reference 3974 can be considered a true masterpiece for the world’s finest collectors and a milestone in the history of modern watchmaking – a true trophy watch for the connoisseur.
Literature
Patek Philippe
Swiss | 1839Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.
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