The ref. 3940 is one of the most important perpetual calendar wristwatches ever made by Patek Philippe and the market is certainly waking up to this fact as records continue to be broken this season for the rarest examples. Introduced in 1985, it replaced the legendary ref. 3450 and ushered in a new era for the perpetual calendar wristwatch. Slim, elegant, and highly wearable, the ref. 3940 became a defining complicated Patek Philippe of the modern era and remained in production for more than two decades. Its perfectly balanced dial layout, 36 mm case, and ultra-thin automatic caliber 240 Q make it one of the purest expressions of the perpetual calendar complication.
This example is a coveted first-series ref. 3940G in 18k white gold, made in 1987 and first sold on December 11, 1987 by the retailer Kaufmann in Canada. First-series examples are particularly prized by collectors for their early dial configuration, with sunken subsidiary dials and distinctive typography. Adding to the appeal, this watch is fitted with a French calendar, giving it a special charm and making it especially desirable to collectors who appreciate the rarest of dial variants.
This full set first series ref. 3940G represents everything collectors look for in the reference: a very early example, white gold case, original retailer provenance, superlative condition and complete presentation.
