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1103Σ

Patek Philippe

Ref. 3971J

A very fine and rare yellow gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, 24 hours, leap year indicator and sapphire crystal case back

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In 1986, Patek Philippe introduced the reference 3970 alongside the rarer reference 3971. The 3971 carried very similar features as the 3970, though with a sapphire case back whereas the early 3970’s were fitted with a solid case back. The reference was the firm’s signature flagship model which was discontinued in 2004 and replaced by the last reference to be fitted with a Lemania based ebauche.

It is very important to note that the present watch belongs to the first series of the reference. The first series of the watch is identified by the transparent snap-on case back - an extremely rare feature, while the second series adopts a screw-down transparent case back. The first series is particularly rare for the reference, as scholars estimate that less than 10 pieces were made for the first series, in contrast to more than 100 examples being created for the second series.

The present example is a reference 3971 in yellow gold fitted with an attractive silvered dial with the day and date indication in Italian. Presented in overall excellent condition and further accompanied by a Patek Philippe extract from the archives, this present example is not one to miss for perpetual calendar chronograph connoisseurs.

Patek Philippe

Swiss | 1839

Since 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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