Property of an Important Asian Collector
1016Σ
Patek Philippe
Ref. 3941
A rare and attractive yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with “first series” dial, moon phases, 24-hour and leap year indication, Certificate of Origin, setting pin and presentation box
- Estimate
- HK$280,000 - 470,000€32,800 - 55,000$35,900 - 60,300
HK$571,500
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Patek Philippe
- Year
- Circa 1987
- Reference No
- 3941
- Movement No
- 770’538
- Case No
- 2’823’680
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 240Q, 27 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Crocodile
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe pin buckle
- Dimensions
- 36mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin stamped Chronometrie Beyer dated 21st May 1987, leather folio, instruction manual, product literature, setting pin, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
It’s fair to say that to all watch enthusiasts, the alluring charm of a movement is equally important as the aesthetic of the watch. It is the ticking of the wonderful world of gear trains, escapements and finesse on finishings that we all like to admire.
To answer this demand for those who wanted to admire the triumph of the ultra-thin automatic perpetual calendar calibre 240Q, Patek Philippe responded gracefully with a new reference derive from the ref. 3940 launched in 1985. The ref. 3941 debuted a year later into production featuring a sapphire caseback that showcases the Geneva Seal movement.
While the ref. 3940 were 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 ref. 3941 on the other hand had a shorter production period, just until 1990, thus making it much rarer.
According to our research, the estimated range for ref. 3941 within the first series that have surfaced in the market range from movement 770’XXX to 775’XXX and case number 2'82X’XXX to 2'86X’XXX. Part of the highly desirable “first series”, the present charming example bears case and movement numbers that sits within the mentioned range.
As one of the early examples of its kind, it boasts a distinctive dial produced by Stern Frères, featuring flat, sunken sub-registers with two-tone 24-hour at 9 o’clock and leap-year indicators without the crosshair divide, which are presented on later examples. Another interesting observation on the present lot are the two period correct short gold pointers for the day and month indicators that can be found during production pieces from late 1986 onwards.
Delivered with the Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin retailed by Chronometrie Beyer in 1987, the present attractive specimen is preserved in excellent condition and companied with its original accessories.
To answer this demand for those who wanted to admire the triumph of the ultra-thin automatic perpetual calendar calibre 240Q, Patek Philippe responded gracefully with a new reference derive from the ref. 3940 launched in 1985. The ref. 3941 debuted a year later into production featuring a sapphire caseback that showcases the Geneva Seal movement.
While the ref. 3940 were 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 ref. 3941 on the other hand had a shorter production period, just until 1990, thus making it much rarer.
According to our research, the estimated range for ref. 3941 within the first series that have surfaced in the market range from movement 770’XXX to 775’XXX and case number 2'82X’XXX to 2'86X’XXX. Part of the highly desirable “first series”, the present charming example bears case and movement numbers that sits within the mentioned range.
As one of the early examples of its kind, it boasts a distinctive dial produced by Stern Frères, featuring flat, sunken sub-registers with two-tone 24-hour at 9 o’clock and leap-year indicators without the crosshair divide, which are presented on later examples. Another interesting observation on the present lot are the two period correct short gold pointers for the day and month indicators that can be found during production pieces from late 1986 onwards.
Delivered with the Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin retailed by Chronometrie Beyer in 1987, the present attractive specimen is preserved in excellent condition and companied with its original accessories.
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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