Mike H
[AHCI Moderator]
11080
First of all...
...welcome here ! It is always a pleasure to welcome a new member and if he arrives just at the edge of the new year and is a Patek aficionado it can be only a good sign ! 
To come back to your question, I cannot tell you what is good or bad or tell you what to do but only tell you what I would do...
- 3940 is a reference for connoisseur and not anymore a much sought after reference thus as already mentioned by others in the thread buy it only if you believe you will keep it for a good while and obviously do bear in mind it might not be easy to resell it in case one day you want to let it go
- I personally would go now only for a first generation (or max 2nd) because if 3940 then some rarity in it would be a must for me
- condition should be excellent
- of course set should come complete and consistent (2nd caseback would be imperative if consistent with period ; buckle should be correct hence pin original PP vintage pin buckle for first generation and deployant for more recent ones but not this buckle as there has never been this square/cushion shape around the Calatrava cross on 3940 but should be round
- last I would personally go for a platinum version because much less production thus more expensive to buy but will hold better value. J is nice but is the metal thatbhas been produced most by far, so I would buy only if very very good rate (but still other parameters about condition and consistency are imperative)
Sorry for the long reply but these are my thoughts about it...
Good luck with this project, keep'us posted of the outcome obviously with pictures, and Happy New Year !
Mike
Available on the marketplace
3940J - advice on an (early) 3rd series model
Hi all, For the past few months, I have been looking on-off for a mint-condition 3940J/G to purchase. I don't usually buy pre-owned but since this reference was discontinued over 10 years ago, this's the only option. My main criteria is that it must come ...
3940 is a classic must have for true Patek collectors but...
It is still in a nadir stage due to being unfashionably small. Same with 5050... Stick with gen 1 or 2 but remember it might be hard to deaccession for maybe a decade or 3... But if you like / love it go with your heart. The greatest value to a Purist ent...
Thanks. I get that the earlier ones are preferred. But
if one were to stick with a third series dial, given it was in production for so long, is there any intrinsic value for an earlier one (produced say in the 1st year, 1990) vs a later one (say 2000)?
First of all...
...welcome here ! It is always a pleasure to welcome a new member and if he arrives just at the edge of the new year and is a Patek aficionado it can be only a good sign ! To come back to your question, I cannot tell you what is good or bad or tell you wh...
Platinum = no sapphire back
Thanks for your kind words and detailed reply Mike. One downside with the 3940P is that it only comes with solid case back. For a newbie like me, I likes the sapphire back so I can view the movement: chuckle.
There is no harm with liking a sapphire case back ;)
In that case I would go for a R or a G version. Both are stunning... I actually owned G, R, and P in my horological journey and R and P are the 2 ones that made my heart beat faster, so if P is out for you choice becomes obvious... . Good luck with your c...
I would not think too much how collectible the watch is.
In all versions 3940 is a wonderful watch to wear. I would go for a version with two case backs and correct deployment buckle. Have you checked the red gold version? Even I'm not a big fan of coloured metals, 3940R is stunning. Best, Kari
Indeed!
Ref. 3940 is not a big collectors' item but a fantastic watch to wear. An iconic perpetual calendar regardless the version. Best, Kari
Amazing photo amazing watch!
Every time I see this picture I get goose bumps. It is the best pic of this reference I have ever seen. Happy New Year. CB
When you say it’s not a big collectors’ item
Thanks all for your comments. As you can see, I’m new to this hobby and any insights/suggestions is most welcome. Is it because this reference was made for so long with production ~7,000pcs (source Hodinkee)? Or is it due to the (relatively) small size? T...
First serie
700 pcs, the big difference is not only the dial bat the year indication; this was "springing"(complication) after streiking... ...
I think you are correct on 2 counts.
The small size and large production numbers make it less collectible I think. Many Patek collectors gravitate towards pieces that are rare such as the amazing “London Edition “3940 with a salmon colored dial. Only 5 pieces made. A forum member has one and...
Thank you.
I have looked around a little so far. I find many 3970s incomplete, either missing box or missing certificate of origin or the extra case back. . I feel that a complete set is a must. The other thing to consider is when buying the 3rd series 3970E, many m...
Broaden my search
Even though this’s a common reference, dealers in Australia seldom see it. So I’ll be doing some (watch) shopping when I’m in HK next month . Given the importance of condition, I’ll be very reluctant to purchase without seeing it first.