Perpetual Calendar Chronograph | 3970E | Platinum
This is one of the last examples of the coveted second series of the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar reference 3970E*. It features a water-resistant case with a screwed down caseback crafted from platinum and paired with a silver-coloured dial built on a solid gold base. It features attractive feuille-style hands that are typical of the first and second series. It is powered by the manually wound calibre CH 27-70 Q, based on the Lemania 2320 that is topped with a perpetual calendar module and finely finished to warrant its Geneva seal.
More than 40 years on from the release of the original perpetual calendar chronograph, the reference 1518, Patek Philippe released the reference 3970 in 1986. The 3970, which followed another iconic reference, the 2499, and was produced from 1986 to 2004 in four successive series.
In many ways, the 3970 marked the historic brand’s first step in the modern era, with increased production capabilities. While 100 pieces of the first series were produced in 1986, the second series was created for a considerably longer period between 1986 and 1991 with the 650 pieces produced in this era benefitting from several refinements. Unlike the first series, which was produced only in yellow gold, the second series was made in yellow, rose and white gold. However, the most elusive of this second series are the examples in platinum. It’s widely thought that in the second series, only 14 examples in white gold and 11 in platinum are known.
Where the first series had snap-on casebacks, the second series marks the introduction of a solid screw-down style variant. This explains the letter "E" in the reference number – for ‘étanche’, or waterproof case. Another detail of the first series, the darker shading of the subsidiary registers compared to the overall hue of the dial, is also lost in the second.
Crucially, the second series retained several attractive traits of the first. This included the feuille-style hands reminiscent of those found on the 1518 and 2499. From around 1990 onwards, the reference 3970 gradually adopted more contemporary design details such baton hands and more pointed and faceted hour markers.
This example, which retailed in December 1991, is perhaps one of the last produced with details from the second series.
The 36mm case is perfectly balanced, larger than the 1518 but smaller than the 2499. Its concave bezel meets a rounded midcase that is home to the rounded chronograph pushers, Calatrava-signed crown as well as the four correctors for the perpetual calendar and moonphase displays. On the movement side, the circular brushed, closed caseback is screwed down. The robust, sculptural lugs feature a stepped facet. They curve down. The top left and bottom right lugs feature crisp precious metal hallmarks.
The silver colour of the dial, with a solid gold base, offers warmth while being perfectly suited to the white metal case. The white gold feuille hands are paired with pointed baton indices also crafted from the same metal. Hash-style minutes chapters lie in between the markers. The day and month indications are expressed through twin window apertures in the northern half of the dial. Each of the three subsidiary registers expresses two units of time. They are graduated with the sort of typewriter font that is typical of later second series examples.
The register at 9 features running seconds as well as a small 24-hour indication; the one at 3 shows 30 elapsed minutes and is also home to the leap year indication. The register at 6 expresses the date as well as the moonphase cycle.
This was also one of the last examples of the 3970E to obscure the manually wound calibre CH 27-70 Q, based on the Lemania 2320 ébauche. Extensively modified and topped with a perpetual calendar module, the movement is finely decorated by hand to warrant its Geneva seal. The single barrel offers 60 hours of reserve.
The second series of the reference 3970 features many details that are coveted and a case that was at the time still finished by hand. This example, in a rare configuration, is all the more delectable.
Closer look
| Brand: | Patek Philippe |
| Model: | Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 3970E |
| Movement: | manual-winding calibre CH27-70Q |
| Functions: | perpetual calendar: leap year indicator, month, date, day, moonphase, day/night indicator, hours, minutes, centre seconds, chronograph |
| Features: | solid caseback |
| Case material: | platinum |
| Case diameter: | 36mm |
| Case thickness: |
13.5mm |
| Lug-to-lug: |
43.5 |
| Crystal: | sapphire front & back |
| Strap: | Patek Philippe brown alligator strap, Patek Philippe white gold deployant clasp |
| Lug width: | 19 x 14mm |
| Year: | 1991 |
| Accompanying materials: | Patek Philippe outer box & inner wooden box, leather document holder, certificate of origin (signed, stamped & dated), advertising/branding material, setting pin |
Condition
This Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph 3970E is in excellent overall condition. The case shows light superficial marks throughout, though only on the surface of the material. More specifically, on the lower right lug there is a scuff towards the bottom, the case retains thick proportions throughout. The dial has developed a warm, attractive hue over time and shows signs of age consistent with the period, the hands and movement have been well preserved. The hallmarks on the sides of the case are crisp and well defined.
Warranty
The watch comes with a two-year, limited warranty from A Collected Man, alongside a lifetime guarantee of authenticity.
Original: $456,143.66
-70%$456,143.66
$136,843.10
Description
This is one of the last examples of the coveted second series of the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar reference 3970E*. It features a water-resistant case with a screwed down caseback crafted from platinum and paired with a silver-coloured dial built on a solid gold base. It features attractive feuille-style hands that are typical of the first and second series. It is powered by the manually wound calibre CH 27-70 Q, based on the Lemania 2320 that is topped with a perpetual calendar module and finely finished to warrant its Geneva seal.
More than 40 years on from the release of the original perpetual calendar chronograph, the reference 1518, Patek Philippe released the reference 3970 in 1986. The 3970, which followed another iconic reference, the 2499, and was produced from 1986 to 2004 in four successive series.
In many ways, the 3970 marked the historic brand’s first step in the modern era, with increased production capabilities. While 100 pieces of the first series were produced in 1986, the second series was created for a considerably longer period between 1986 and 1991 with the 650 pieces produced in this era benefitting from several refinements. Unlike the first series, which was produced only in yellow gold, the second series was made in yellow, rose and white gold. However, the most elusive of this second series are the examples in platinum. It’s widely thought that in the second series, only 14 examples in white gold and 11 in platinum are known.
Where the first series had snap-on casebacks, the second series marks the introduction of a solid screw-down style variant. This explains the letter "E" in the reference number – for ‘étanche’, or waterproof case. Another detail of the first series, the darker shading of the subsidiary registers compared to the overall hue of the dial, is also lost in the second.
Crucially, the second series retained several attractive traits of the first. This included the feuille-style hands reminiscent of those found on the 1518 and 2499. From around 1990 onwards, the reference 3970 gradually adopted more contemporary design details such baton hands and more pointed and faceted hour markers.
This example, which retailed in December 1991, is perhaps one of the last produced with details from the second series.
The 36mm case is perfectly balanced, larger than the 1518 but smaller than the 2499. Its concave bezel meets a rounded midcase that is home to the rounded chronograph pushers, Calatrava-signed crown as well as the four correctors for the perpetual calendar and moonphase displays. On the movement side, the circular brushed, closed caseback is screwed down. The robust, sculptural lugs feature a stepped facet. They curve down. The top left and bottom right lugs feature crisp precious metal hallmarks.
The silver colour of the dial, with a solid gold base, offers warmth while being perfectly suited to the white metal case. The white gold feuille hands are paired with pointed baton indices also crafted from the same metal. Hash-style minutes chapters lie in between the markers. The day and month indications are expressed through twin window apertures in the northern half of the dial. Each of the three subsidiary registers expresses two units of time. They are graduated with the sort of typewriter font that is typical of later second series examples.
The register at 9 features running seconds as well as a small 24-hour indication; the one at 3 shows 30 elapsed minutes and is also home to the leap year indication. The register at 6 expresses the date as well as the moonphase cycle.
This was also one of the last examples of the 3970E to obscure the manually wound calibre CH 27-70 Q, based on the Lemania 2320 ébauche. Extensively modified and topped with a perpetual calendar module, the movement is finely decorated by hand to warrant its Geneva seal. The single barrel offers 60 hours of reserve.
The second series of the reference 3970 features many details that are coveted and a case that was at the time still finished by hand. This example, in a rare configuration, is all the more delectable.
Closer look
| Brand: | Patek Philippe |
| Model: | Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 3970E |
| Movement: | manual-winding calibre CH27-70Q |
| Functions: | perpetual calendar: leap year indicator, month, date, day, moonphase, day/night indicator, hours, minutes, centre seconds, chronograph |
| Features: | solid caseback |
| Case material: | platinum |
| Case diameter: | 36mm |
| Case thickness: |
13.5mm |
| Lug-to-lug: |
43.5 |
| Crystal: | sapphire front & back |
| Strap: | Patek Philippe brown alligator strap, Patek Philippe white gold deployant clasp |
| Lug width: | 19 x 14mm |
| Year: | 1991 |
| Accompanying materials: | Patek Philippe outer box & inner wooden box, leather document holder, certificate of origin (signed, stamped & dated), advertising/branding material, setting pin |
Condition
This Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph 3970E is in excellent overall condition. The case shows light superficial marks throughout, though only on the surface of the material. More specifically, on the lower right lug there is a scuff towards the bottom, the case retains thick proportions throughout. The dial has developed a warm, attractive hue over time and shows signs of age consistent with the period, the hands and movement have been well preserved. The hallmarks on the sides of the case are crisp and well defined.
Warranty
The watch comes with a two-year, limited warranty from A Collected Man, alongside a lifetime guarantee of authenticity.
