Since the 1920s, Patek Philippe has been manufacturing some of the world’s most prized and important chronograph wristwatches. With their first serially produced chronograph being the ref.130 released in 1936, it was however not their first chronograph ever produced. In the 1920s, the firm upon a request of a loyal client created a piece unique split-seconds chronograph wristwatch featuring a round-shaped case with thin screwed lugs and a hinged officer’s caseback. Measuring 33mm in diameter, the mono-pusher split-seconds chronograph featured a white enamel dial with black painted Breguet numerals. With the start of the project in 1903, the watch was finally completed and delivered in 1923. This was also the earliest known split-seconds chronograph wristwatch by any manufacturer.

Paying homage to the important unique example from 1923, Patek Philippe introduced the ref. 5959 in 2005, a true reedition of the original example. Cased in a 33mm diameter platinum case in the same style with screwed lugs, the ref. 5959 omitted the hinged officer’s caseback and opted for a sapphire display caseback proudly showcasing the firm’s first ever in-house split-seconds chronograph cal. CH 27-525 PS featuring an extra-flat column wheel with only a thickness of 5.25mm, a world record at the time. Initially launched in platinum with a white lacquered dial with black Breguet numerals, a variant with a black dial was released in 2008. A rare pink gold iteration was released thereafter with a black dial and gilt Breguet numerals with only 5 examples ever made. While it is believed that most examples were fitted with a white dial throughout the course of its production before it was discontinued in 2018, only a fraction were produced with a black dial with no more than a handful resurfaced back into the market since. It is estimated that less than 100 examples of the reference were produced.

The present example Patek Philippe ref. 5959 in platinum from circa 2014 with the rare and elusive black dial is the second example to be offered at a PHILLIPS auction. Complete with its full set of accessories, it is a rare occasion to come across the present reference in the wild. Cherished, adored and praised by esteemed connoisseurs of Patek Philippe, the ref. 5959 will surely go down in history as one of the most elegant, beautiful and important split-seconds chronograph references in the lineage of the firm.