Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1998 Reference No: 3970EJ Movement No: 3'045'793 Case No: 4'010'701 Material: 18kyellow gold Calibre: Manual, cal. CH 27-70 Q., 24 jewels, stamped with the Geneva Seal Bracelet/Strap: Brown Patek Philippe crocodile strap Clasp/Buckle: 18k gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp Dimensions: 36mm diameter Signed:Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: With Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin, additional solid case back, setting pin and product literature. Furthermore delivered with Patek Philippe Extract form the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1998 with silvered dial, yellow gold indexes, English version and its subsequent sale on July 3, 1998.
Catalogue Essay
Reference 3970 is the third iteration of the most iconic line of wristwatches made by Patek Philippe: the perpetual calendar chronographs with moon phases. Indeed, this set of complications can be considered the true custodian of the Patek Philippe DNA. After all, the first representative is reference 1518 - the first such wristwatch made in series by any manufacturer - followed by the 2499 - also an icon of watch collecting - and eventually the 3970.
Launched in 1987 and discontinued in the early 2000s, it was the first time Patek Philippe housing a movement in a waterproof, screw-back case. Another noteworthy modification is the slight reduction of the diameter, compared to reference 2499, in order to better suit the '90s taste. The result is a very compact, masculine and elegant timepiece.
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.