This rare yellow-gold Patek Philippe 3940 from 1985 is one of the earliest examples of the iconic reference to follow the first 25 pieces that sold through Beyer Chronometrie. This watch is full set with original certificate and brochures. The timepiece just came back from complete overhaul service at the Patek vintage department in Geneva. The overhaul took about a year and the watch is still service sealed. These photos of the unsealed watch were taken prior to service.
The watch was lightly polished a long time before we acquired it; but the hallmarks are still visible on the side of the case. We asked Patek not to polish or cosmetically alter the watch during the recent service.
We don’t think there is a better example of the 3940 on the market today.
Philippe Stern, the owner of Patek, took delivery of a prototype when Ref 3940 was introduced in 1985, and this is the watch he wears every day. The next 25 watches were sold to Patek’s longtime retail partner Beyer for their 225th anniversary, with the Beyer name on the dial. Stamped number 033 on the movement, our example is one of the handful made following the initial release.
This timepiece illustrates why a Patek perpetual calendar is so coveted. Understated both in styling and case-size, it carries a highly desirable 'first-series' dial, with recessed sub-dial registers. The sub-dials reflect interesting contrasting shades to the rest of the watch as you turn it on the wrist. Patek abandoned the sunken dial after the first series because the dials proved too difficult to manufacture. Three companies manufactured the first-series dial, and our watch with a Stern Brothers dial and vintage style accent over “e” in Geneve is the best.
Many Patek Philippe scholars consider the 3940 the face of modern Patek Philippe, but the reference was accessible until recently, even after it was discontinued in 2006. Prices have climbed steadily in the last three years, but given the significance of the watch in Patek’s history, we think the watch is still one of the best values on the market.
The watch comes full set with its original certificate, leather wallet and manuals, box and setting stylus. It also includes its vintage original buckle and logo-stamped black strap. (We took the original strap off to save it because it’s a collectible item.) We put on a new high quality alligator strap on the watch for daily wear.
