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Patek Philippe

Ref. 3940

An attractive and rare yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, 24-hour, leap year indication, Certificate of Origin and presentation box

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First making its important debut in 1985, the Patek Philippe ref. 3940 was a true revelation being the first perpetual calendar by the firm with the newly innovated self-winding micro-rotor caliber 240Q. The reference was first released as a special limited edition of 25 pieces to celebrate the 225th anniversary of Patek Philippe retailer Chronometrie Beyer in Zurich. Released in series thereafter, the reference was offered in four precious metals including yellow gold, pink gold, white gold and platinum. The reference remained in production until 2007 with a total of four series produced across its production span.

The present example Patek Philippe ref. 3940 cased in yellow gold with a movement number 770’485 belongs to a rare example from the first series. Featuring a unique trait specific to early examples, it features sunken registers and a solid caseback. It is believed by scholars that only 1,300 examples of the reference were produced in the first series making them extremely sought-after and rare today. The present example is complete with its full set of accessories including its original Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin stamped Chronometrie Beyer dated 1987.

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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