Launched in 1993 and in production until 2002, ref. 5050, together with its officier-case sister ref. 5059, is one of the lesser-known grail of modern watchmaking. For the first time ever at Patek Philippe, a perpetual calendar is fitted with both an automatic movement and center seconds, reuniting the two distinguishing features of vintage perpetual calendar references 3448/3450 (automatic) and 2497/2438-1 (center seconds). Furthermore it features a retrograde date, allowing a dial design hardly ever seen before on Patek Philippe timepieces - and never on standard production model. Only some piece unique, such aa the modified reference 96 with perpetual calendar, are known with a similar configuration.

Oozing class and refined elegance, this truly is a quintessential Patek Philippe model, and an extremely interesting value proposition. Adding to its attractive overall appeal, it is an early example, dating to 1995, and it was purchased at revered Milan retailer Orologeria Verga, one of the best renowned retailers in Italy.

The model was produced in the three gold variations and in platinum, and an evolution can be noticed: the very first examples bear railway divisions and Roman numerals (a configuration soon abandoned), concurrently the present baton indexes configuration was also made available. Finally, the very last examples feature black dial and Breguet numerals. At least one special order piece is known, with silvered dial and oversized Breguet numerals.