The Patek Philippe reference 5070 was the first modern-era chronograph-only wristwatch released by the firm since the 1960s saw the end of production for the reference 1463. Introduced in 1998 at Basel, it was something of a shock to collectors that Patek would choose to reintroduce their chronograph-only line in such bold fashion – particularly the 42mm case dimension and the dramatically thick, stepped bezel.

For the tenth anniversary of the release of the first reference 5070, Patek Philippe released in 2008 a platinum-cased version with a sublime blue dial. The platinum 5070, represented by the present lot, was only in production from 2008 until 2010, and was manufactured in the fewest number of pieces of any 5070, adding to its desirability. Though the case architecture assures a commanding presence, in platinum these attributes are elevated. The dial color is of particular interest, as it is difficult to accurately pinpoint the exact shade of blue. Patek itself refers to the color as “bleu nuage” or "cloud blue", but truly there are myriad names for the colors that come out at different angles or light sources. The oversized Arabic numerals, also reminiscent of aviator’s watches and one of the main design elements carried over from the historical reference 2512 on which the 5070 is based, are rendered in 18 karat white gold, adding a subtle lustre to the already superb dial. As with most modern platinum Patek Philippe watches, a 0.02 carat diamond is inset at the case at six o’clock.

The appeal of the present reference 5070P is heightened due to its outstanding state of preservation and completeness, where all accessories, even its original hang tag, accompany this fine collectors’ timepiece.