CIRCA: 1991
CASE MATERIAL: 18k yellow gold, sapphire crystal caseback, with additional solid 18k solid gold caseback
DIAMETER: 33 mm.
STRAP MATERIAL: Patek Philippe brown CROCODILE leather strap
DIAL: Porcelain white dial with Roman numerals
MOVEMENT: Cal. R27 PS, automatic, stamped with the Geneva Seal
FUNCTION: Time, minute repeater
CLASP: Patek Philippe 18k gold deployant clasp
WITH: Additional solid 18k gold caseback, Certificate of Origin confirmed May 28, 1991 as the date of the sale, leather wallet with product literature, and original presentation box

Ψ This endangered species strap is shown for display purposes only and is not for sale. Upon sale, this watch will be supplied to the buyer with a black leather strap.

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This lot is offered by Christie's Dubai Ltd.

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Lot Essay

The reference 3979 has a special place in the history of Patek Philippe. It was introduced as part of a celebratory bunch of timepieces including the magnificent Cal. 89 pocket watch, the Ref. 3974 minute repeater perpetual calendar, and the Ref. 3960, to mark the 150th anniversary of the manufacture.

Both the Ref. 3797 and the 3794 feature Patek Philippe’s first self-winding minute repeater movement, the cal. R27 PS and the Cal. R27 Q (which included the perpetual calendar complication). The chiming gongs and the 22k gold micro-rotor can be seen thanks to the sapphire crystal caseback.

The 3979 was produced from 1989 to 2002 and it is believed that about a 100 pieces were made with the majority in yellow gold. Understated and elegant, the watch’s design was reportedly inspired by that of the Ref. 2524/1 made in the late 1950s.
The initial batch of watches featured a case made by the legendary casemaker Jean-Pierre Hagmann and his initials JPH are stamped on the inside caseback, just like it is in the present timepiece offered in the sale. The later cases were made by Ateliers Réunis (as indicated by the Geneva case maker’s mark Key 28).