Property of an international collector
Patek Philippe
Reference 3940P | A platinum perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, 24-hour and leap year indication | Circa 1988
Auction Closed
November 9, 12:39 PM GMT
Estimate
60,000 - 120,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Dial: silvered
Calibre: cal. 240 Q automatic, 27 jewels
Movement number: 771'404
Case: platinum, snap-on case back
Case number: 2'856'248
Size: 36 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: yes
Papers: yes
Accessories: Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin 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.
The 3940 was produced over a period of twenty years from about 1985 to 2007. It is considered as the quintessential automatic perpetual calendar reference manufactured by Patek Philippe. The design was so well received and timeless that it was preserved by its successor, the reference 5140, where only subtle changes were made.
Although the reference 3940 isn't the first automatic perpetual calendar, it is equipped with an impressive movement. Powered by the ultra-thin perpetual calendar calibre 240, which includes a micro-rotor, this movement is a remarkable achievement in micro-engineering. It has laid the groundwork for other outstanding timepieces, such as the Patek Philippe Nautilus Reference 5740, and has also influenced movements used in minute repeaters.
The current platinum example is from the very early second series, featuring a solid case back.
Pieces from that series have an opaline silvered dial, beveled subsidiary dials with divided leap year indication as opposed to the sunken subsidiary dials and no division leap year indication on the first series, 'Obus' indexes and a slightly larger Patek Philippe signature.