The First Patek Philippe 3970 Resurfaces at Sotheby’s

The first Patek Philippe ref. 3970 returns to Geneva for Sotheby's Important Watches sale on November 8, with the preview open November 5-7 at the Mandarin Oriental. It was sold at the brand's Geneva boutique on Rue du Rhône in January 1987 and carries movement number 875'000, the lowest serial number of the CH 27-70 Q calibre. The ref. 3970 replaced the ref. 2499 and marked the start of a new era for the perpetual calendar chronograph, which expanded from a halo piece into a staple during the 1980s. The watch has sold at Antiquorum twice before and comes with its original box and certificate of origin, which makes the completeness of the set more important than usual. The estimate is CHF1.0-3.0 million, and Sotheby's presents the watch as a museum piece as much as a collectable.