Patek produced model 3974 between 1989 and 1997, and the model marked Patek's 150th anniversary. Production was limited. It is said that each 3974 required four years of development and assembly. The 3974 is THE holy grail of wristwatches.
Case is 18-carat gold with dimensions of 36 mm diameter by 12 mm thickness. Sapphire crystal on the front and back. The case was made by John Pierre Hagman, the most celebrated and revered case maker at Patek Philippe and Geneva. Mr. Hagman is so prominent and respected that he has his own brand name: JHP, used on the cases he made. It is important to note that Mr. Hagman did not make all 3974 cases, only a handful of them. Reference 3974 is the last minute repeater watch with Hagman cases.
The dial is solid gold, silver-plated, with applied hour markers, raised minute chapter and dauphine hands. Counterdial at 3 o'clock shows month and leap cycle. Counterdial at 6 o'clock shows date and moon phase. The counterdial at 9 o'clock shows day and time in 24-hour (am/pm) format and is shaded to represent the night between '18' and '6'.
The movement is the Patek Philippe automatic caliber R 27 Q. The movement features 39 jewels, free-sprung self-compensating balance regulated for temperature, cold, isochronism and in 5 positions, and stamped with the Geneva Seal. The caliber also features a 22-carat hand-guilloché micro-rotor. The hammer and minute repeater gongs are visible through the crystal in the case back. The movement is composed of 467 individual parts.
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