What you’re looking at is arguably one of the most beautiful perpetual calendar watches ever made, full stop. And perhaps one of the most important, too.
The Reference 3940 was born in 1985, at a time when the watch world was in the midst of the Quartz Crisis and most brands were churning out inexpensive, battery-powered watches — and struggling to stay afloat. Alas, Patek Philippe was never one to follow the crowd, and released both the ref. 3940 perpetual calendar and the ref. 3970 perpetual calendar chronograph with in-house, micro-rotor-equipped automatic movements — a gauntlet drop if ever there was one.
This reference is in fact not a 3940. Built on the exact same platform, the Reference 5940 extends the successful DNA of the 3940 with a more avant-garde TV case. The watch is still powered by the legendary in-house Patek Philippe Calibre 240Q movement with micro rotor, and comes equipped with a dark gray Patek Philippe crocodile leather strap that complements the tones of the white gold case. Further, it’s complete with its factory goodies and a certificate of origin confirming purchase in 2015.
The dial features a beautiful set of Breguet numerals set on a white dial scape. Dot indexes mark the intermediate minutes.
Part of what makes this piece so special is its entirely complete kit of factory ephemera, including winding box, certificate of origin, extra solid caseback, and the setting pusher for the perpetual calendar functions. This level of complete set is not a common occurrence with rare perpetual calendars of this kind.
If you love the 3940 like we do, but want something a bit more eccentric, this is exactly where we'd look! This is a truly incredible, rare Patek grand complication.