866Σ︎
Patek Philippe
Ref. 3940P-013
A well-preserved and rare platinum perpetual calendar wristwatch with black dial, moon phases, 24-hour, leap year indication, setting pin, Certificate of Origin and presentation box—single-sealed
Full-Cataloguing
- Preserved in single resealed condition
- Fresh to the market
- One of four known to the auction market and with the earliest serial
- Accompanied with its original accessories
Officially launched in 1985 shortly after the Quartz crisis, the Patek Philippe’s reference 3940 marked a distinctive departure from the brand’s more traditional aesthetic. Cased at a slender 36mm with a refined circular profile, the watch offers a contemporary elegance and exceptional comfort on the wrist that still feels remarkably modern today.
The present example is fitted with an extremely rare and captivating black lacquered dial confirmed by its certificate. Black dials are already uncommon on the reference 3940, and they become exceptionally scarce on platinum examples such as this 3940P-013. Oversized Roman numerals and obelisk-style white hands deliver striking legibility. The overall effect is both enchanting and quietly authoritative.
Powering the watch is the ultra-thin calibre 240 Q, the first Patek Philippe movement to feature a micro-rotor. It is notable that platinum examples never came with a sapphire caseback, a detail that renders the watch particularly discreet and understated.
Preserved in exceptional condition, this platinum reference 3940P is not only fresh to the market and represents an earliest serial number from 2003 among only three other known examples, making it the fourth to appear. The watch was likely resealed once the buyer has had the opportunity to inspect it after purchase. Complete with its original set of accessories, it retains strong proportions and crisp hallmarks. A rare and highly desirable offering, it is certain to command the attention of discerning collectors.
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.