Designer Adam Lippes spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Adam Lippes wore a late Fourth Series Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar ref. 3940J-014 while presenting his Spring 2027 collection at New York Fashion Week. The 36mm yellow gold case and opaline white dial were clearly visible on the designer's wrist during the fashion event, pairing understated luxury with contemporary tailoring.

The ref. 3940 houses Patek Philippe's calibre 240 Q perpetual calendar movement—a self-winding mechanical engine carrying an annual calendar complication alongside the perpetual calendar mechanism. The 36mm case spans just 8.5mm in thickness, achieving remarkable thinness for a perpetual calendar timepiece. The opaline white dial (ref. 3940J-014 designation) features three horizontally arranged subdials: month and leap-year indicator at 12 o'clock, perpetual calendar moonphase at 6 o'clock, and a distinctive two-tone 24-hour subdial at 9 o'clock—the lower half darkened for night hours, a charming functional detail. Water resistance stands at 30 meters, appropriate for a dress watch prioritizing elegance over diving capability.

Produced between 1985 and 2007 across four numbered series, the ref. 3940 succeeded the celebrated ref. 2497 and ref. 1526 perpetual calendars. Its streamlined three-subdial layout departed from earlier, busier designs while retaining the perpetual mechanism's technical sophistication. The Fourth Series (1995–2007) refined case finishing and dial presentation; examples like Lippes' opaline white variant command premium pricing among collectors seeking vintage Patek Philippe complications in accessible case diameters.

Lippes' choice reflects a designer's sensibility toward functional timelessness. The 3940 bridges Patek Philippe's postwar tradition with its modern watchmaking philosophy—compact, thin, and visually restrained yet mechanically uncompromising. Its 36mm proportions remain notably modest by today's standards, positioning it as a dress watch rather than statement piece.

Grey-market examples of the ref. 3940J in Fourth Series condition trade between $65,000 and $85,000 USD, depending on dial variant and service history. The opaline white dial commands mid-range pricing within this spectrum. Original retail for the reference circa 1995–2000 hovered near $35,000, making secondhand appreciation modest but consistent. Waitlists for new Patek Philippe perpetual calendars now exceed five years, lending historical examples like Lippes' watch renewed desirability among collectors unable to access modern production.