Will the Ref. 3970 Please Stand Up

The last of the classic perpetual calendar chronograph references, the Patek Philippe Ref. 3970 may now be ready to step out of the shadows of its illustrious predecessors

- NITIN NAIR

Unlike modern timepieces, the world of vintage watches rarely sees volatility in prices or micro trends. The collectability factor and consequently prices are often determined by the same parameters— condition and rarity; and in some cases, provenance. It is true that vintage Cartier has seen a major uptick in prices and demand, but there are many seasoned collectors who think this is the odd fad that appears now and then at auctions.

However, there is one neo-vintage wristwatch reference that is slowly stepping out of the shadows cast by its more illustrious predecessors— the Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph Ref. 3970. No other brand can stake claim to the kind of legacy and history that Patek Philippe enjoys with the perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch. The Swiss brand was the first to serially produce a perpetual calendar chronograph reference when it debuted the Ref. 1518 in the 1940s, a time when Europe was in the throes of the World War II.