製造商: Patek Philippe 年份: 1986 型號: 3940 機芯編號: 770’118 錶殼號碼: 2’824’891 材料: 18k yellow gold 機芯: Automatic, cal. 240 Q, 27 jewels 錶帶/ 錶鏈: Crocodile 錶扣: 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp 尺寸: 36mm diameter 簽名: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed 配件: Delivered with a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the date of manufacture of the present timepiece in 1986 and its subsequent date of sale on 25th March 1986.
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Seen on the wrist of Mr. Philippe Stern, the Patek Philippe ref. 3940 is undeniably one of the most iconic perpetual calendar references manufactured by the firm. Launched in 1985 replacing its former ref. 3450, the legendary “Padellone”, the ref. 3940 features a rather classic Calatrava-style case with extremely clean proportions and dial layout equipped for the first time with a micro-rotor. Launched in four metals, yellow gold, pink gold, white gold and platinum, the reference was offered in a total of three series with its production spanning until 2007. The reference was first produced for famed retailer Chronometrie Beyer in Zürich in a limited edition of 25 pieces to celebrate its 225th anniversary, each individually numbered bearing the Beyer signature on the dial.
The present example Patek Philippe ref. 3940 in yellow gold with a 770 thousand movement number from 1986 confirmed by an Extract from the Archives issued by Patek Philippe belongs to the rare and desirable first series. While most examples were fitted with silver dials, the present example with a gold champagne dial is certainly rare. With its distinctive traits confirming the present example to be one of the earliest, the dial features sunken registers that are consistent with other examples from the respective series, furthermore, it is also equipped with a solid caseback, with later examples featuring a transparent display caseback.
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.