Patek Philippe
Reference 3970ER | A pink gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, 24 hours and leap year indication, Circa 2000
Auction Closed
December 7, 07:12 PM GMT
Estimate
80,000 - 100,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Dial: silvered, fourth series
Caliber: cal. 27-70Q mechanical, 24 jewels
Movement number: 3’046’820
Case: 18k pink gold, screw down sapphire display back
Case number: 4’153’871
Closure: 18k pink gold Patek Philippe buckle
Size: 36 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: no
Papers: no
Launched in 1986, reference 3970 was Patek Philippe’s third perpetual calendar chronograph made in series, and the successor to the iconic 2499. The model remained in production for nearly two decades, available in white, yellow, and pink gold, as well as platinum, with various dial options. Setting it apart from its predecessor, the watch features a slightly smaller 36 mm case and incorporates a leap year indication, the first perpetual calendar chronograph to do so. The first series of the 3970 featured a solid snap-on case back and was later replaced by reference 3970E like the current example, which features an updated screw-down case back, with the suffix indicating étanche, or waterproof. Cased in pink gold, this fourth series 3970 boasts an elegant silvered dial.