Patek Philippe
Reference 3970EJ-014🥃 | A yellow gold perpetual💛 calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, leap year and 24-hour indication | Circa 2000
Auction Closed
May 12, 11:39 AM GMT
Estimate
80,000 - 120,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Dial: silvered
Calibre: cal. 27-70Q manual winding, 24 jewels
Movement number: 3’046’184
Case: 18k yellow gold, screw-down sapphire crystal di🐼splay case back
Case number: 4’103’666
Closure: 18k yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle
Size: 36 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: yes
Papers: yes
Accessories: Patek Phili♊ppe Certificate of Origin, solid case back, leather bifold, service packaging, travel p🍎ouch and presentation case
Please note the leather strap derived from endangered species is for display purposes only and is not sold with the watch. The watch will be shipped with a Sotheby’s branded calf leather strap.
Launched in 1986, the reference 3970 was Patek Philippe’s third perpetual calendar chronograph made in series. Powered by the Lemania 2310 as its base, the caliber 😼CH 27-70Q was heavily modified by Patek Philippe. The reference 3970 was the first perpetual calend🌳ar chronograph made by the firm to indicate the leap years.
The first series of the 3970 featured a solid snap-on case back. It was later replaced with Ref. 3970E like the current example, which features an updated screw-down case back, with the suffix indicating étanche, or waterproof. This&nജbsp;screw back case back was produced for the second to fourth series of the model until the Reference 3970 ceased production 2004.
The reference was a complete success and was kept🐷 it in production for almost twenty years, making it in yellow, pink and white gold, and in plꩵatinum. The present example is in close to new condition with terrific and well-defined fluting to the lugs, a sought-after two-tone 24-hour register, and is complete with its certificate of origin, box and additional solid second case back.