821Σ︎
Patek Philippe
Ref. 3940, Third Series
A rare and attractive pink gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, leap year, 24-hour indication and winding presentation box
Full-Cataloguing
- Third Series dial
- Updated ultra-thin self-winding movement, the cal. 240/114
Spanning from 1985 to 2007, the reference was one of the watches with the longest production run in the firm, with slight design nuances, collectors came to an agreement on defining the reference into three series. Confirmed by Patek Philippe, the watch was manufactured in 2002 as stated in the Extract from the Archives. It might be easily confused at the first glance as the dial layout of the Second and Third Series share a lot in common, but after careful inspection, the present watch can be identified as a Third Series ref. 3940. With the retaining features of late Second Series dials, the “σ Swiss σ” on the present Third Series dial is shift upwards and sits “in-line” with the minute track. The typography of the sub-dials is also different by adopting a more clean and modern sans-serif.
The present ref. 3940 is in classic 18K pink gold, with hallmarks visible at the rear of the lugs which is a notable feature of the last series. It houses the ultra-thin cal. 240/114 movement, which is an updated cal. 240Q movement, giving that slim and classy look. Bearing a movement number with starting digits 3’12X’XXX, it holds the 22K gold rotor decorated with the Calatrava Cross that is only seen in Third Series ref. 3940. The watch is fitted with a 18K pink gold deployant clasp as in other late series for comfortable wear.
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.