1005Σ︎
Patek Philippe
Ref. 3998P
Calatrava
A rare and attractive platinum wristwatch with center seconds, date, diamond-set indexes, ivory dial and presentation box
Full-Cataloguing
- Only 8 examples have appeared in the auction market publicly
- Fresh-to-the-market
- Confirmed by the Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives
The ref. 3998 was launched in 1989 and remained a staple offering in the Patek Philippe collection until being discontinued in 2005. With a water resistant, screw-back 34 mm diameter case, and an practical date dial layout with sweep seconds, this watch was a commercial success and remains highly desirable to this day for its subtle elegance.
The watches were sold in a variety of styles, ranging from models with diamond or sapphire-set dials, black dials and even a limited edition model for retailers.
The present timepiece features a calibre 315 SC is a rare platinum example fitted with a beautiful ivory dial set with diamonds and baguette-cut at 6, 9 and 12 o’clock. According to our research, only 7 similar examples have ever appeared in the public auction market. The present lot confirmed by the Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives 1993 is the 8th to appear. With only a handful of platinum examples known so far, this is an opportunity for collectors who are looking for a discontinued and rare Calatrava.
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.