18Σ︎
Patek Philippe
Ref. 3970ER-028
An important, extremely rare, and highly attractive pink gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with black dial and Breguet numeral at the 12 o’clock, tachymeter scale, certificate of origin, presentation box and additional solid case back
完整圖錄內容
• One of five special anniversary edition 3970ER made for Patek Philippe’s 2015 London Watch Art Grand Exhibition; one of only two examples that have appeared publicly
• Well-preserved in excellent condition and complete set
• Rare and coveted black dial with applied Breguet numeral 12
With over 400 exceptional timepieces on display, the 2015 Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition was the largest overseas exhibition of the brand at that time. To celebrate this significant occasion, Patek Philippe publicly released a selection of previously discontinued pieces with special dials for the first time, reserved exclusively for their most trusted clientele. Today, watches from this landmark exhibition are regarded as trophy pieces due to their rarity and historical significance within Patek Philippe's legacy.
Launched in 1986, the ref. 3970 continued the legacy of the iconic ref. 2499, sharing its downturned fluted lugs and pump pushers reminiscent of historical models. As a modern perpetual calendar chronograph, it introduced several innovations, replacing the Valjoux movement of its predecessors with a heavily modified Lemania cal. 2310 D. The cal. CH 27-70 Q now indicated leap years, while a 24-hour hand added practical functionality.
Even a decade after the 3970 was discontinued, Patek Philippe wasn’t quite done with it. In 2015, for Patek’s 175th anniversary celebrations, the company dusted off a few leftover 3970 cases and movements to create a very limited run of special editions. The most notable were the so-called “London Saatchi Edition” ref. 3970ER-028 and ref. 3970EP-046. The 3970ER-028 consisted of just 5 pieces in rose gold (hence “ER” for Étanche Rosé) with a black dial featuring a tachymeter, dot hour markers, and a single Breguet numeral at 12.
Essentially, these watches resurrected the 3970 design 11 years after its official end, proving the model’s enduring appeal. They were assembled from new-old-stock 3970 parts and so are identical in form to a regular 3970, but with that special dial configuration and corresponding dial code set them apart.
With the setting pin, numbered hang tag, and solid caseback still in their seal, this extremely limited example of the 3970 furthermore retains its original certificate of origin and presentation box.
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.