1080Σ
Patek Philippe
Ref. 3670
An extremely rare and highly important stainless steel limited edition chronograph cushion-shaped wristwatch with black dial, 1950’s movement and original certificate
- Estimate
- HK$4,500,000 - 7,000,000€542,000 - 843,000$580,000 - 900,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Patek Philippe
- Year
- Circa 2012
- Reference No
- 3670
- Movement No
- 869'316
- Case No
- 4'494'103
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Mechanical, 13''130 CH, 25 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Black <em>Patek Philippe</em> crocodile leather strap
- Dimensions
- 37 mm. width
- Signed
- <em>Case, dial and movement signed</em>
- Accessories
- With <em>Patek Philippe</em> Certificate of Origin dated 16 June 2012, Attestation confirming that the present watch is a limited edition of 16 pieces only, portfolio photograph of the present watch, product literature, instruction manual and leather portfolio.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Possibly the most elusive and desirable of all contemporary Patek Philippe wristwatches, reference 3670 is one of the firm’s rarest serially produced modern timepieces. The story behind the model is equally compelling as the timepiece itself.
During Patek Philippe’s renovation move in 1996, employees found an old wooden chest on the 5th floor in their boutique on Rue du Rhone in Geneva. Inside the wooden chest were 16 unused caliber 13-130 movements, which were originally made to be fitted to vintage chronograph wristwatches such as reference 130. These movements were fully assembled and regulated in 1955, working perfectly even in 1996.
To celebrate this discovery, and pay tribute to its vintage chronographs of the past, Patek Philippe disassembled and subsequently reassembled the 16 movements. In 2011, the firm placed them in stainless steel cushion cases, evoking images of Patek Philippe chronograph wristwatches of the past.
To discover the unused movements was extremely remarkable. Yet, to case them in a stainless steel cushion case was, at the time, was nothing sort of extraordinary. Apart from its split-seconds chronograph reference 5950, Patek Philippe hardly ever used stainless steel in the production of their high-end timepieces, saving these precious moments and opportunities for charity or one-off events.
Producing a highly limited stainless steel chronograph wristwatch housing an original vintage movement was a bold and audacious move, sending collectors into an immediate frenzy. The watches were furthermore fitted with black dials, giving it a modern and sporty appearance.
At the time of production, reference 3670 was an “application” watch. As such, only Patek Philippe’s most prestigious, deserving and loyal clients were granted the honor to own one such wristwatch. As such, the reference is highly mythical, and this marks the first time it has ever graced the auction market.
We are delighted and thrilled to offer the very first reference 3670 to the auction market, complete with all its original accessories and preserved in excellent condition.
During Patek Philippe’s renovation move in 1996, employees found an old wooden chest on the 5th floor in their boutique on Rue du Rhone in Geneva. Inside the wooden chest were 16 unused caliber 13-130 movements, which were originally made to be fitted to vintage chronograph wristwatches such as reference 130. These movements were fully assembled and regulated in 1955, working perfectly even in 1996.
To celebrate this discovery, and pay tribute to its vintage chronographs of the past, Patek Philippe disassembled and subsequently reassembled the 16 movements. In 2011, the firm placed them in stainless steel cushion cases, evoking images of Patek Philippe chronograph wristwatches of the past.
To discover the unused movements was extremely remarkable. Yet, to case them in a stainless steel cushion case was, at the time, was nothing sort of extraordinary. Apart from its split-seconds chronograph reference 5950, Patek Philippe hardly ever used stainless steel in the production of their high-end timepieces, saving these precious moments and opportunities for charity or one-off events.
Producing a highly limited stainless steel chronograph wristwatch housing an original vintage movement was a bold and audacious move, sending collectors into an immediate frenzy. The watches were furthermore fitted with black dials, giving it a modern and sporty appearance.
At the time of production, reference 3670 was an “application” watch. As such, only Patek Philippe’s most prestigious, deserving and loyal clients were granted the honor to own one such wristwatch. As such, the reference is highly mythical, and this marks the first time it has ever graced the auction market.
We are delighted and thrilled to offer the very first reference 3670 to the auction market, complete with all its original accessories and preserved in excellent condition.
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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