PATEK PHILIPPE
Perpetual Calendar Chronograph
Ref.3970E N°876344 / 2919362 Circa 1993 18k (750) yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with perpetual calendar and moon phases Case: round, correctors on the caseband, screw-down transparent case back, signed Dial: opaline, applied "baton" hour markers, apertures for the indication of the day of the week and month (Italian), subsidiary dial for the indication of the date, 2 counters for the chronograph function, aperture for the moon phases, 24-hour indication, railway minute track with 1/5th second graduation, signed Movement: mechanical cal.CH27-70Q, Geneva hallmark, signed Buckle: gold pin buckle, signed Diameter: 36 mm Gross weight: 76.50 g. With: a certificate of origin confirming that this watch was sold in February 1993 in Turin by Astrua, a second signed gold case back (11.50 g), a presentation box, a Patek Philippe leather pouch, and a setting pin. An 18k yellow gold perpetual calendar manual-winding chronograph wristwatch with a signed gold buckle. With a certificate of origin confirming that this watch was sold in September 2007 in Turin by Astrua, a signed gold solid case back, a presentation box, a Patek Philippe leather document folder, and a setting pin. Since the early 1940s, Patek Philippe has made the perpetual calendar chronograph one of its finest specialties. Based on the research of Jean Adrien Philippe, this particularly elaborate mechanism was developed as early as 1889. However, it was only in 1941 that the manufacture achieved the feat of combining this delicate complication with a chronograph in the reference 1518. This was followed by the reference 2499, which the watch presented here succeeded. The reference 3970 is the brand's third perpetual calendar chronograph model. Introduced into the collections in 1985, this timepiece, which features a resized 36 mm case, is equipped with a movement developed from a Lemania caliber blank. Produced only until 2004, a mere 4,200 pieces are estimated to have been sold. Of all the Patek Philippe collections, this chronograph was produced in the largest number. Produced in four series, the example shown is a third-generation model, identifiable by its faceted hour markers and baton hands. Produced between 1989 and 1995, the third-series models are distinguished from the second-series, which feature leaf-shaped hands, and from the fourth-series, recognizable by their brighter dial. The "E" in reference 3970E stands for "Etanche" (Waterproof), a feature that differentiates the very first series, equipped with a snap-on case back, from those produced from 1987 onwards, which have a screw-down case back. Since the early 1940s, Patek Philippe has made the perpetual calendar chronograph one of its finest specialties. Based on research by Jean Adrien Philippe, this particularly elaborate mechanism was created as early as 1889. However, it wasn't until 1941 that the Manufacture succeeded in combining this delicate complication with a chronograph, with the reference 1518. This was followed by the reference 2499, which the watch presented here succeeds. Reference 3970 is the brand's third perpetual calendar chronograph model, introduced to the collections in 1985. This timepiece, with a case resized to 36 mm, is equipped with a movement developed from a draft Lémania caliber. Produced only until 2004, only 4,200 examples were sold. Of all the Patek Philippe collections, the chronograph was produced in the largest numbers. Available in four series, the model shown here is a third-generation watch, identifiable by its faceted hour markers and baton hands. Produced between 1989 and 1995, the third series models differ from those in the second series, which feature leaf hands, and those in the fourth series, which are recognizable by their brighter dials. The E in the reference 3970E stands for “Etanche” (water-resistant), a feature that distinguishes the very first series, equipped with a clip-on case back, from the models produced from 1987 onwards, which are equipped with a screw-down case back.
