Reference 5059 features a number of rarely-seen traits which make it a true connoisseur’s and collector's item. It was released in the late 1990s to replace reference 5050, and it remained in production for a relatively short time, until 2006.

As descendant of reference 5050, it features the same movement, which is one of the most historically important for the evolution of Patek Philippe. In fact, it combines an automatic module with sweep centre seconds, and builds up upon that with a retrograde date indicator. Before the advent of cal. 315 S-QR Aut., no Patek Philippe perpetual calendar featured both automatic winding and sweep centre seconds, but only one of the two, such as the automatic ref. 3448 and more recently 3940, or the sweep centre seconds ref. 2497.

The dial layout is inherited from the most complicated wristwatch serially made by the House until the advent of the Sky&Moon Tourbillon: ref. 5016, which features retrograde date but is neither automatic, nor features centre seconds. Compared to ref. 5016, however, ref. 5059 introduced a different, very nostalgic graphic approach which makes it a masterpiece of readability, featuring radial Roman numerals and a sectorial style, bringing the beholder back to timepieces from the early 20th century.

Case-wise, the simple calatrava-style of reference 5050 is abandoned in favor of a more prominent and elaborated officier-style case, defined by screw lugs and hinged case back (in this model protecting a second glazed back). Beyond increasing the wrist presence of the piece, the case is deeply rooted in Patek Philippe DNA, albeit its use is quite sparse. It is not a coincidence that it often appears in celebratory series (for example the 150th anniversary ref. 3960), and it is even today used on some of the most classical and important models (such as ref. 5959).

All this considered, one has to appreciate this model as a very refined, complicated and probably not yet fully appreciated example of Patek Philippe watchmaking at its best.