Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1992 Reference No: 3940G Movement No: 773'055 Case No: 2'905'131 Material: 18K white gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 240 Q, 27 jewels, stamped with the Geneva Seal Bracelet/Strap: Leather trap Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Patek Philippe pin buckle Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificat d'Origine code-dated March 1992, additional solid case back, numbered sale tag, numbered service tag, setting pin, product literature, wallet, fitted presentation box and outer packaging. Furthermore delivered with Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1992 and its subsequent sale on March 26, 1992.
Catalogue Essay
Following in the footsteps of iconic reference 3448 (and its upgraded brethren 3450), reference 3940 is the second automatic perpetual calendar created by Patek Philippe. Compared to the previous iteration, both case and dials have been revolutionised, now the latter imbued with the elegant, masculine and understated Calatrava line and the former redesigned with a 3-counter architecture very close to that of the great perpetual chronographs of the past: references 1518 and 2499.
Launched in 1985, reference 3940 was executed in three different series (and a very small “pre-series”): - Pre-series: 25 numbered Beyer pieces with gilt dial - First series: without second case back, sunken subdials, 24-hour counter two-tone - Second series: with second back (all but platinum), sloped subdials, 24-hour counter two-tone - the present watch - Third series: with second back (all but platinum), sloped subdials, monochrome 24-hour counter - such as the present watch.
The present watch, offered in excellent condition and complete with all its original sale accessories down to the numbered sale tag, is one of only a handful - about 30 - second series white gold reference 3940s to appear on the market.
Since 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.