Reference Guide
Emmanuel, known as quattro on WatchProSite, presents a compelling comparison between two white gold Patek Philippe chronographs: the Ref. 3970EG-016 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph and the Ref. 5070G-001 Chronograph. His detailed side-by-side analysis, complete with movement specifications and dimensions, invites collectors to consider the subtle yet significant differences that define these Lemania-based marvels. This article delves into the community's nuanced perspectives on design, wearability, and horological compromise.
Review of the 3970EG by Tim Mosso
Review of the 5070G-001 by Tim Mosso
The Patek Philippe reference 3970 is a perpetual calendar chronograph, a complication central to the brand's heritage. It succeeded the highly regarded reference 2499 and served as a bridge to the later reference 5970. The 3970 was produced over an extended period, allowing for several series and subtle variations in its design, making it a significant model for collectors interested in the evolution of Patek Philippe's complicated wristwatches.
This reference features a 36mm case, commonly found in 18k white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, and platinum. It is powered by the manual-wind caliber CH 27-70 Q, based on a Lemania ébauche, which offers a power reserve of 60 hours. The watch is fitted with a sapphire crystal, protecting a dial that typically includes subdials for the chronograph, perpetual calendar displays, and moon phases.
The 3970 appeals to collectors seeking a classic Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph with a traditional aesthetic and a historically important movement. Its long production run from 1986 to 2004 means that examples from different series, such as the first, second, and third, exhibit minor differences in dial layout and case details, providing distinct collecting opportunities within the reference.
Both of them feel somewhat compromised to me, but both show Patek's great finesse in those compromises. The 3970 is too thick for its diameter, the 5070 is too large in diameter for its movement. But Patek figured out how to make both work: the 3970 case is so curvy that it carries off its fatness, and the 5070 dial and bezel have so many neat levels that you can almost forget how significant the movement/case disproportion is.
The most proportionate and harmonious design for the Lemania movement. Everything is just the right size even the month/day displays. A grail of mine, which in current market prices will most likely stay a grail. Here, the P version, that was offered to me about a year ago…
The 3970's proportions are just perfection!
But the 3970 demonstrates that the 5070 could have been so much more (and a tad less myopic looking), if the case was similarly sized 😊👍🏻
That said, when I first saw and then tried on the 3970 I was surprised to find that a lot of what we say about its thickness doesn't translate into reality: it sits very nicely on the wrist and is far from looking like a sandwich! As for the 5070, I've never seen it in real life... Best, Emmanuel
And, yes, in real life this watch lives up to its legend (and shows how some criticism are unfounded). Best, Emmanuel
This thread is active on the Patek Philippe forum with 26 replies. Share your knowledge with fellow collectors.
Join the Discussion →
