45Σ︎
Patek Philippe
Ref. 3940J-028
An extremely rare, important and attractive yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with black dial, moonphases, certificate of origin and presentation box
Full-Cataloguing
- Perpetual calendar with moonphases
- Fresh to the market and the second example of a ref 3940 in yellow gold and black dial to appear at international auction
- This watch is among the rare special production pieces officially authorised as an “out of production” creation
- Preserved in excellent and barely worn condition, it is offered as a "full set"
The Patek Philippe reference 3940 stands out as one of Patek Philippe's most iconic models ever created. Introduced in 1985 under the guidance of Philippe Stern, it represented a notable departure in design for the brand's classical perpetual calendar models. During its production period, it ranked among Patek Philippe's longest-running references, with production halting around 2007. The sleek, stepped and finely designed 36 mm diameter Calatrava case infuses the watch with a distinct contemporary elegance, while the calendar functions on the dial are communicated through subdials rather than apertures. Fuelled by the groundbreaking ultra-thin caliber 240, which introduced Patek Philippe's inaugural use of a micro-rotor, it facilitated the creation of an elegant and remarkably slim case that hugged the wrist snugly.
The present reference 3940 in yellow gold, however, sits in a league of its own. Fresh to the market and, to the best of our knowledge, the second example to appear at international auction, this watch is among the rare special production pieces officially authorised as an “out of production” creation. The present example is fitted with a black dial produced specifically for this sub-reference, utilizing the dial typography of reference 5140 and accented with yellow gold indexes to complement the yellow gold case. Distinguished by its highly individual aesthetic, this watch ranks among the most compelling Patek Philippe perpetual calendars of the 21st century.
Patek Philippe
Swiss | 1839Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.
Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.