PATEK PHILIPPE, EXTREMELY RARE WHITE GOLD PERPETUAL CALENDAR WRISTWATCH, WITH MOON PHASES, REF. 3945/1



Details

CIRCA: 1988
CASE MATERIAL: White gold
CASE DIAMETER: 36 mm.
CASE NO: 2'842'115
BRACELET SIZE: Approx. 190 mm. overall length
BRACELET MATERIAL: White gold
DIAL: Opaline silvered, applied white gold indexes, 1st series
MOVEMENT: Automatic
MOVEMENT NO: 771'313
FUNCTIONS: Perpetual calendar, moon phases
BOX: No
PAPERS: No
WITH: Extract from the Archives confirming production of this watch in 1988 with opaline silvered dial, applied white gold indexes, bracelet in white gold and its subsequent sale on 14 October 1988
Provenance

Christie's Geneva, Rare Watches auction, 13 November 2017, Lot 47 (sold for 62'500 chf)


Lot Essay

The white gold 3945/1 itself is one of the rarest versions of the reference, far less were made than in any other metal. To the best of our knowledge only five other examples have ever been sold at auction, however all fitted with second series dials. Reference 3945/1 was, like it’s sister reference 3940, produced in two distinct main series, distinguished by the leap year display: the first series with sunk leap year dial without “cross”, the second series showing a crossed leap year.
Made in 1988, the present example is one of the last, if not the very last reference 3945/1 to be fitted with a first series dial. Although literature states that the first series dial did continue until 1988 it was thought that only second series dials were used for watches with a movement number higher than 771’000. However, first series dials are certainly found on the sister reference 3940 until around serial number 771,500.
The present white gold reference 3945/1 and one other publically known example in yellow gold retailed by Tiffany & Co. with movement number 771’167 are both confirmed as made in 1988 and both have first series dials. Interestingly, the signature “Patek Philippe Genève” on both these watches is in the slightly larger font used on second series dials.
Launched in 1985, reference 3945/1 is considered among the most elegant and distinguished perpetual calendar timepieces ever made. It was in production until 1998 and is a variant of the celebrated reference 3940. Whereas the case of reference 3940 features lugs in order to add a detachable leather or gold bracelet, reference 3945 was made exclusively with an integral gold bracelet.
The present watch provides the rare opportunity to acquire perhaps the most exclusive example of the extremely rare and supremely elegant white gold reference 3945/1.