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Lot 130 Lots 130 & 131 – Patek Philippe Ref. 3940
Reference 3940, the quintessential perpetual calendar distinguished by its timeless elegance, is undeniably amongst Patek Philippe's greatest classics. Launched in 1984 as replacement for reference 3450, it was at the time the slimmest automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch.
An initial series of around 100 pieces were manufactured between 1984 and 1985, the first 25 were especially made for the 225nd anniversary of Patek Philippe's retailer Chronometrie Beyer in Zurich, numbered and personalized. Starting in 1985, reference 3940 went into standard production. Until the model's discontinuation in 2007 when it was replaced by reference 5140 three further series were produced.
The main design variants between earlier and later series include sunken subsidiary dials as opposed to the rather beveled version and a plain leap year dial rather than the one with the quarter separations. Earlier models featured a smaller signature, the designation "Swiss" was printed underneath the beady minute divisions. This was changed in later series with the "Swiss" printing within the ring.
Examples of reference 3940, both regular and the Chronometrie Beyer anniversary version, are illustrated and described in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches - Volume II, p. 300, and in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp 292 - 294.
Reference 3940, the quintessential perpetual calendar distinguished by its timeless elegance, is undeniably amongst Patek Philippe's greatest classics. Launched in 1984 as replacement for reference 3450, it was at the time the slimmest automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch.
An initial series of around 100 pieces were manufactured between 1984 and 1985, the first 25 were especially made for the 225nd anniversary of Patek Philippe's retailer Chronometrie Beyer in Zurich, numbered and personalized. Starting in 1985, reference 3940 went into standard production. Until the model's discontinuation in 2007 when it was replaced by reference 5140 three further series were produced.
The main design variants between earlier and later series include sunken subsidiary dials as opposed to the rather beveled version and a plain leap year dial rather than the one with the quarter separations. Earlier models featured a smaller signature, the designation "Swiss" was printed underneath the beady minute divisions. This was changed in later series with the "Swiss" printing within the ring.
Examples of reference 3940, both regular and the Chronometrie Beyer anniversary version, are illustrated and described in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches - Volume II, p. 300, and in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, pp 292 - 294.
Patek Philippe. A very fine and rare platinum automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, original certificate, sales tag and box
Signed Patek Philippe, Geneve, Ref. 3940, movement no. 773'155, case no. 2'905'419, manufactured in 1992
Closed14 November 2016
Price Realised
CHF 47,500
More Information
Specialist note
Purchased by the present owner at the renowned retailer Gübelin in Zurich in 1992, the present watch impresses with its close to new condition and the presence of the original certificate and box.
The platinum models of ref. 3940, the rarest version such as this watch, were delivered with the plain snap on back only (apart from to date one known example with glazed back) whereas the other case versions were available with both solid and glazed back.
The platinum models of ref. 3940, the rarest version such as this watch, were delivered with the plain snap on back only (apart from to date one known example with glazed back) whereas the other case versions were available with both solid and glazed back.