The 3940 is one of the longest produced reference of Patek Philippe. This perpetual calendar was a reaction to the quartz crisis threatening the industry of mechanical timepieces at the time. A few prestigious manufactures did not fully embrace the quartz movement trend and rather proposed complicated watches. However the timepiece we are offering here distinguishes itself by something more exceptional than the joy of proposing a perpetual calendar. It presents a visual rarity: the « X » in the leap year sundial at 3 o’clock. This is typically instead of a vertical/horizontal cross commonly observed on late second generation of 3940.
Some attribute this type of « eX-tra » dial to an attempt to make the transition between the early and late configuration of the 2nd dial generation. Other mention between the 2nd and 3rd generation. In all cases, this dial was only seen worn by either members of the Stern family, owners of Patek Philippe’s or very close friends of them. So far only 5 are known: 2 in white gold and 3 in yellow gold including the doré dial one worn by Philippe Stern himself (ACollectedMan is to be credited for the great picture of Mr. Stern below in black & white except the watch in color). This one is a 18k yellow gold with an argenté french calendar dial.
Movement / case number: 77x.xxx / 28xxxxx
It comes with its original guarantee from early 1990, burgundy wallet and its Calatrava type long black box.
One of the rarest configuration seen for the very elegant and popular reference 3940. The « eX-tra » perpetual calendar.
