Patek Philippe

Under the direction of Philippe Stern in 1986, Patek Philippe launched the first execution of the reference 3970. The lineage with the references 1518 and 2499 can easily be noticed. However, the new cal. 27-70 was based on a Lemania ébauche and not on a Valjoux movement as the previous iterations. The manufacturer improved the case design which soon benefited from a screw-down back, paving the way for the introduction of ref. 3970E (standing for étanche or water-resistant) in 1988. The 3970E was manufactured in yellow, white and rose gold as well as in platinum such as the present example. The platinum iteration was offered with three different dial variations, namely a plain black one, a silvered one, and the most interesting of them all, a black dial with diamond indexes, as can be found on the present lot. 

Similarly to its famed predecessors, the 3970E is widely appreciated by all collectors alike for its wearable proportions and the quality of its complicated movement. In 2004, Patek Philippe launched its successor, the ref. 5970, designed by Thierry Stern, shortly before his father handed him the reins of the company.

The present 3970EP has been kept in excellent overall condition with a crisp case and strong hallmarks, and will be an excellent addition to a growing watch collection.