PATEK PHILIPPE. A FINE AND RARE 18K WHITE GOLD MINUTE REPEATING TOURBILLON WRISTWATCH WITH ENAMEL DIAL AND BREGUET NUMERALS

To the best of our knowledge the present watch has never before been offered in auction. It is believed to be one of only 3 examples of reference 3939H in white gold to have appeared in public to date.

One of the most elegant and subtle of the Patek Philippe grand complication timepieces, reference 3939 unites the sonorous charms of a two-gong minute repeater with the gravity-defying precision of a tourbillon escapement. In keeping with its eternal style, the model ignores the contemporary trend for larger cases, measuring 33 mm. in diameter, an achievement for such a technically sophisticated timepiece. It is also one Patek Philippe exceedingly rare references to feature an enamel dial, furthermore blessed with the much sought after Breguet-style numerals.

And last but not least as any of its minute repeating peers, the present watch had to pass a final test before being handed over to its future owner. Since Patek Philippe launched the production of these cherished timepieces in 1989, not a single one left the workshop before Philippe Stern, the company's president until 2009, now honorable president, deemed its chiming of the hour worthy of the firm's high standards. In the tranquility of his office, he listened to the sounds of each watch to assure the inimitable richness of timbre that, as the Calatrava cross, is one of the trademarks of Patek Philippe's minute repeating wristwatches.

Reference 3939 was officially launched in 1993 and remained in production until 2009, available in all three gold versions and in platinum. In 2010 it was replaced by reference 5339, so far exclusively cased in pink gold.

Reference 3939 with movement no. 1'903'000 and calibre RTO 27 PS are illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 330.