Year: 1999
Reference No: 3970EG-018
Movement No: 3'046'005
Case No: 4'072'852
Material: 18K white gold
Calibre: Manual, cal. CH27-70/155 Q, 24 jewels, stamped with the Geneva Seal
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Patek Philippe pin buckle
Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificat d'Origine stamped by Spanish retailer "Unión Suiza" and dated January 17, 2000, additional solid caseback, setting pin, product literature, leather document holder, fitted presentation box and outer packaging. Furthermore accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1999 and its subsequent sale on November 30, 1999.

Reference 3970 was the first Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph to feature leap year and 24-hour indicators - enormously improving its ease of setting. Unusually, and despite the more complex mechanism within, the reference 3970 represented the first drop in size in the perpetual calendar chronograph family: from 37.5mm of reference 2499 down to 36mm. The production can be divided into four series: the first series features a snap-on caseback, either solid (ref. 3970) or glazed (ref. 3971), with applied gold sword indexes and feuille hands. The second series features a screw-down caseback (also in this case available either solid or glazed) with the hallmarks stamped on the outside of the lugs. The third series - exemplified by the present watch - features a sapphire display back along with a screw-down solid caseback (as a consequence, glazed-back ref. 3971 is no more). The fourth series is identical to the 3rd series, but the movement numbering system changed. The reference was made in yellow, pink and white gold as well as in platinum, the present white gold variant already being the most uncommon among the four metals. The present specimen however compounds to the rarity of the white gold case with a baton indexes black dial. Most 3970s in white gold were originally born with silver, or “argenté”, dials and the few black dial examples usually feature diamond-set indexes. The present baton indexes example not only is enormously rare and collectible, but furthermore exudes a much more sportive and masculine vibe than it’s more “evening-oriented” diamond-set siblings. Fresh to the market, and with the coveted baton black dial confirmed on the original Certificate of Origin, only eleven examples of the model in this configuration have appeared on the market, making this never-before-seen timepiece the 12th one. The slight warmth of the white gold case paired with the sleek, inky black dial is an irresistible combination, only made more desirable by the remarkable honest overall condition of the watch and the presence of all the original accessories: not only the Certificate, but also the second back, setting pin and wooden box.