Watch collecting is a field truly filled with excitement and surprises and it is incredible to discover the existence of a model close to 36 years after its production!
The present Patek Philippe reference 3979 minute repeater in pink gold is such a piece: it is in fact the only known example in pink gold and is making its auction debut.
In 1989 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the manufacture, Patek Philippe released a series of commemorative and limited edition timepieces to celebrate the important event during a time where special editions were not as common as they are today. Among the impressive lineup of commemorative timepieces introduced, including the Caliber 89, Patek Philippe launched two minute repeating timepieces: ref. 3974 further equipped with a perpetual calendar complication and the ref. 3979 such as the present timepiece featuring small seconds.
Both references house Patek Philippe’s first fully inhouse minute repeating movement, cal. R27 the firm’s first self-winding minute repeating caliber with a micro-rotor, making them the very first self-winding minute repeating wristwatches by the brand.
Reference 3979 furthermore saw the return of the time only minute repeater into the Patek Philippe catalogue.
Reference 3979 is housed in a refined 33mm round case with highly architectural lugs reminiscent of what was seen on the vintage Patek minute repeaters, and was available in platinum, white gold, pink gold and yellow gold.
With around 100 pieces made in total and only 24 having appeared publicly, the model is without a doubt one of the rarest modern repeaters made by the brand. Initially, cases for this reference were crafted by the skilled Jean-Pierre Hagmann. Later iterations like the present example featured cases by Geneva-based Atelier Réunis, identifiable by the key hallmark number 28. Interestingly, after the year 2000, all cases made by Atelier Réunis won't be stamped with key 28 anymore but rather with the signature oval PPC stamp.
The present example, fresh to the market and in overall excellent condition and crystal clear chimes, comes with its Certificate of Origin, second case back and very interestingly with a contact between the buyer and German retailer Wempe stating that the purchase price of Deutsch Mark 436,500 can be paid in 10 installments and is further accompanied by the relevant receipt for each payment. Purchased in June 1996 the watch was fully paid by October 1998.
The importance of the present watch cannot be highlighted enough, not only is it a milestone in Patek Philippe’s history but its rarity – the first ever reference 3979 in pink gold to come to the market and the only one known – make this watch an absolute pinnacle of Patek Philippe collecting.