Mike H
[AHCI Moderator]
11080
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 choice 
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.