Property from an Important Asian Collector
856Σ
Patek Philippe
Ref. 3940J
An early, attractive and rare “first series” yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, 24-hour, leap year indication, Certificate of Origin and presentation box
- Estimate
- HK$350,000 - 700,000€42,100 - 84,100$44,900 - 89,700
HK$571,500
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Patek Philippe
- Year
- Circa 1985
- Reference No
- 3940J
- Movement No
- 770’034
- Case No
- 2’817’911
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 240 Q, 27 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp
- Dimensions
- 36mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin stamped Magasin Patek Philippe SA and dated 6th December 1985, service invoice dated 10th August 2018, instruction manual, product literature, leather folio, additional Patek Philippe crocodile strap in black, fitted winding presentation box and outer packaging.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The Patek Philippe ref. 3940 was first released in 1985 as a 25-piece limited edition to commemorate the 225th Anniversary of Beyer Chronometrie, an esteemed Zurich-based retailer and long-time friend of the firm. Realised in different variants ranging from yellow, pink and white gold to platinum, this reference was predominantly encased in yellow gold and had enjoyed a long and triumphant production run which only ceased in 2007.
The present ref. 3940J from circa 1985 bears a movement numbered 770’034 that belongs to the “first series” and is a part of a small production of no more than 1300 pieces. The sequence of the movement number further indicates that the present timepiece is the 34th ref. 3940 produced and the 9th example of the “first series” after the 25-piece Beyer edition.
Ref. 3940 Beyer Edition Known to the Market
Movement No. 770’001, No. 1, 1985
Movement No. 770’002, No. 2, 1985
Movement No. 770'006, No. 6, 1985
Movement No. 770’010, No. 10, 1985
Movement No. 770’016, No. 16, 1985
Movement No. 770’019, No. 19, 1985
Movement No. 770’020, No. 20, 1985
Present Ref. 3940J “First Series”
Movement No. 770’034, Circa 1985
As one of the earliest examples of its kind, it boasts a distinctive dial, featuring flat, sunken sub-registers with 24-hour and leap-year indicators without the crosshair divide, which are presented on later examples. Another interesting observation on the present lot is the two long gold pointers for the day and month indicators, which usually are observed and found on the first twenty-five Beyer pieces. Last but not least, it is accompanied by a rarely seen early Patek Philippe deployant clasp and an equally rare and early fitted winding presentation box. These small details further ascertain how early and rare this ref. 3940J “first series” is.
Delivered with the Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin, the present specimen is preserved in an attractive overall condition. With subsidiary dials that have developed a light patina, its vintage charm is further elevated and will certainly please any collector of iconic wristwatches.
The present ref. 3940J from circa 1985 bears a movement numbered 770’034 that belongs to the “first series” and is a part of a small production of no more than 1300 pieces. The sequence of the movement number further indicates that the present timepiece is the 34th ref. 3940 produced and the 9th example of the “first series” after the 25-piece Beyer edition.
Ref. 3940 Beyer Edition Known to the Market
Movement No. 770’001, No. 1, 1985
Movement No. 770’002, No. 2, 1985
Movement No. 770'006, No. 6, 1985
Movement No. 770’010, No. 10, 1985
Movement No. 770’016, No. 16, 1985
Movement No. 770’019, No. 19, 1985
Movement No. 770’020, No. 20, 1985
Present Ref. 3940J “First Series”
Movement No. 770’034, Circa 1985
As one of the earliest examples of its kind, it boasts a distinctive dial, featuring flat, sunken sub-registers with 24-hour and leap-year indicators without the crosshair divide, which are presented on later examples. Another interesting observation on the present lot is the two long gold pointers for the day and month indicators, which usually are observed and found on the first twenty-five Beyer pieces. Last but not least, it is accompanied by a rarely seen early Patek Philippe deployant clasp and an equally rare and early fitted winding presentation box. These small details further ascertain how early and rare this ref. 3940J “first series” is.
Delivered with the Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin, the present specimen is preserved in an attractive overall condition. With subsidiary dials that have developed a light patina, its vintage charm is further elevated and will certainly please any collector of iconic wristwatches.
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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