Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar

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3940J

£59,500

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Now available, an exceptional early second-series Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar reference 3940 in yellow gold.

The 3940’s significance hardly needs retelling: launched in the mid-1980s at a moment when high watchmaking felt almost contrarian, it became the blueprint for Patek’s modern perpetual calendar - slim, elegant, mechanically poetic. But within the reference lie subtle evolutions, and the early second series sits in a particularly sweet spot. You get the beautifully balanced, serif-rich dial font of the first generation, paired with the slightly later production refinements that followed. The result is a dial that feels wonderfully classical, yet unmistakably Patek.

What truly moves the needle here, however, are the hallmarks. Many yellow-gold 3940s have lost their case-side punches to time, wear, or overzealous polishing - but this example retains exceptionally crisp hallmarks, deep and defined in a way that immediately communicates careful ownership. For collectors who prize untouched metalwork, it’s exactly what you hope to see and almost never do.

A further delight sits where you least expect it: the clasp. While all early 3940s left the factory on a pin buckle, some owners later upgraded to folding clasps - but the Ellipse-style folding clasp with Calatrava Cross is a rare and genuinely beautiful anomaly. It lends the watch a little extra poetry, a small flourish of ‘80s Patek character that feels perfectly at home on such an early example.

The hands show gentle, honest patina - that lovely soft ageing that confirms the originality of the watch and complements the warm tone of the case. Offered as a watch-only, with a Patek Philippe service included at the buyer’s request and an Extract from the Archives already in motion, it represents a particularly compelling proposition. For those who appreciate the 3940 not just as a reference, but as a milestone in Patek Philippe’s modern history, this is an example that genuinely stands apart. The watch is available for viewing in London and purchase worldwide. Please get in touch for further information.