Patek Philippe 3970ER '4th series'

Yet another Patek Philippe Ref. 3970 that we are proud to offer to our clientele. Widely regarded as one of the finest grand complications ever produced by Patek Philippe, the Ref. 3970 remained in production from 1986 until 2006. Throughout its production run, it was available in yellow gold, white gold, platinum, and, as presented here, the ever-elegant rose gold.

Introduced as the successor to the highly collectible reference 2499, the 3970 quickly established itself as a legend in its own right. Beyond its timeless aesthetics and perfectly balanced proportions, it represents the end of an era. It was the last perpetual calendar chronograph from Patek Philippe to be housed in a classic 36mm case, before the succeeding reference 5970 grew to 40mm.

This example is the reference 3970ER (E = étanche, French for waterproof; R = rose, indicating the rose gold case) and is a fourth-series dating to 2003. As you would expect from Patek Philippe, every detail is beautifully executed. From the pump pushers to the sapphire crystal case back, which offers a view of the hand-finished manual-winding movement. But most importantly, the dial...

The silvered dial sports 18K rose-gold pointed baton indices and matching pointed baton hands. Two apertures at the 12 o’clock position reveal the day and month mechanism. The dial features three sub-dials. The recessed sub-dial at the 9 o’clock position displays running seconds as well as a 24-hour indication, while the recessed sub-dial at 3 o’clock incorporates a 30-minute chronograph counter and a leap year indicator. Finally, the lower sub-dial houses the charming moon phase display, surrounded by the date indication. The overall condition of the watch is exceptionally well preserved. Just look at the crisp hallmarks, the strong lugs, and the outstanding overall condition of the case. It is a rare watch, and finding one in this level of preservation is increasingly uncommon.

The watch is fitted to a black Patek Philippe alligator strap with its original 18K rose gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp. It has recently been serviced by an official Patek Philippe Service Centre and is offered with its original box and documents. It has been originally sold in Germany, hence the German day and month disc.