SJX Watches
The First Patek Philippe 3970 Resurfaces at Sotheby’s
The first numbered Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 3970 returns to Geneva on November 8 as part of Sotheby’s Important Watches sale. Originally sold at the brand’s Geneva salon on Rue du Rhône on January 14, 1987, this example represents a pivotal moment in Patek Philippe’s recent history. The launch of the ref. 3970 ended the 30-year run of its predecessor, the ref. 2499, and began a new era for Patek Philippe chronographs. This example was born from that transition, bearing the lowest-numbered Lemania-based Patek Philippe movement: no. 875’000. Had this watch come any later, the brand may have kept it for the museum, as it did the first ref. 3971 (no. 875’030). Today, Patek Philippe’s perpetual calendar chronographs represent something of an entry point into the brand’s Grand Complications collection, but they were once the most complicated wristwatches on the market, with the brand building as few as 10 per year. But the market for high-end complicated wristwatches, which historically varied between none and niche, exploded during the 1980’s, transforming Patek Philippe’s perpetual calendar chronograph from a halo piece to a staple. That transformation began with this watch. A closer look This watch is no stranger to the auction block, having sold at Antiquorum in 2005 and 2015, with no apparent change to its condition throughout that time. Fittingly, it comes with its original box and certificate of origin. In most cases these deta...
