Patek Philippe ref 3971 Pink Gold

The Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronograph has always been the ultimate grail for me. As a high school kid flipping through auction catalogs on my dad’s coffee table, I dreamt about refs 1518, 2499, and 3970.

This second-series 3971 in pink gold-with large hallmarks and sapphire caseback-checks every box imaginable.

Believe it or not, I found this watch on eBay, picking it up in person from a savvy gentleman who won it at an early online auction in 1999. He wouldn’t call himself a collector; he simply wanted the best watch in the world-and nailed it.