Patek Philippe

arolex
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3970: Here's part of an article that I wrote....

sometime ago, on "The History of Patek Philippe Perpetual Chronographs":

Here is the "3970" section of the article (hope it helps):

Cheers,

Arthur

Patek Philippe reference: 3970

Introduced in 1986 and ending in 2004.  The 3970 went through various iterations throughout its 19 year run.  Case metals came in yellow, rose, white and platinum.  For sake of simplicity, I have categorized the 3970 into three series, although a case can be made for 5 series to incorporate the 3971 and 3970/2. The 3970 measures 36mm, and is very much an elegant and dressy chrono/perpetual.  Movement is the CH 27-70Q,  23 jewels, Lemania based, manually wound.

 1^st series: 1986

The first series is characterized by its stunning two-tone dial, and lighter printing, with serif font on the date wheel and snap-back case.  It is estimated that only approx. 100 of these watches with these aforementioned features were produced.  The lovely feuille hands, originally found on the 3^rd series 2499, are present on this first series 3970.

2^nd series: 1987-1990 (approx.)

The case back on the 2^nd series was changed from the traditional snap back, to the screw-back case (water-resistant). The watch maintained its classic leaf hands, which made it visually quite similar to its processor; 2499 third series.

The suffix “E” designation signifies that the case was now water-resistant (E is an abbreviation for the French term etanche, which translates to water-proof).   The dial is no longer two tone.  Date wheel is now sans serif, printing is still light, all other dial details, including the leaf hands, and baton hour markers are the same as the first series 3970.

Sometime early in the 3970 production it is commonly understood that there were a number of clients that requested a sapphire case back, to see the beautiful Lemania based movement.  It was sometime early in the production run that Patek introduced the 3971, which is essentially identical to the 3970 2^nd series, but now fitted with a sapphire case back. Both these models appear to have been produced simultaneously.

Both these early 3970/3971 would have the following features:

1. Movement number 875XXX

2. 1^st series snap back, 2^nd series solid case back, sapphire for the 3971.

2. Feuille (Leaf) hands

3. Baton hour markers.

4. Slightly different font vs. the third series.

5. Smaller "older style" certificate of origin.

3^rd series: 1991- 1985:

3^rd series is considered the most common of the 3970 reference.  It came with baton hands, darker printing, triangle hour markers, solid and sapphire case backs, with silver, black and diamond dials.

3970 Production:

I’ve based my production estimates on the assumption that Patek used sequential serial numbers to their movements. 

3970 production commenced in 1986 and ended approx. 2004, total of 19 years.

3970, 1st series, 1986: (snap-back case, leaf hands, baton hour markers, two-tone dial)

-movement number 875000-875100 

3970-2nd series 1986-1991 (approx.): (leaf hands, baton hour markers, solid case back)

Movement: 875101-875999 (I found that later production 8759XX, seem to have some transitional details found on the third series, but that could also be a result of dial swaps??)

3970 3rd series 1991-2004: (baton hands, two case backs etc.)

Movement: 1991-1996 876XXX

and

Movement: 1996: 3045XX-346XXX+

Assuming that 90% of movement production was used for the 3970, and the remaining 10% of production for the two other Patek models, utilizing the same movement (reference: 3990+5020). It would be a reasonable to assume that total production of the 3970 is approx. 3600 pieces.

Again, the 1st series being the rarest; 100 pieces, followed by the 2nd series, approx. 850-900 pieces, and lastly the 3rd series at 2600.

If you estimate that there were approx. 500 Patek retailers, a rough calculation would equate to each retailer receiving approx. one 3970 every 2 years (210 pieces per year divided by 500 retailers).

This is not a fact, just a rough estimate.