Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 2012 Reference No: 5726/1A-001 Movement No: 5'673'245 Case No: 4'767'671 Model Name: Nautilus Annual Calendar Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 324 S QA LU 24H/303, 34 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Patek Philippe bracelet, reference A384FAP, max length 180mm. (with the three extra links) Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Patek Philippe deployant clasp Dimensions: 40.5mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin confirming the sale of the watch on July 11, 2012, box with outer packaging, product literature and three extra links.
Catalogue Essay
In 1996, Patek Philippe patented the Annual Calendar complication, a new mechanism that took into account the different lengths of the months and required only one annual adjustment in February. The legibility of the calendar functions were made easy thanks to the month and day that were indicated via two apertures on the top part of the dial whereas the date, moon phases and 24 hours indication were placed elegantly on the lower part of the dial.
In a bold move, Patek Philippe decided to merge fine complications and sports chic by launching a Nautilus housing this intelligent and useful complication.
The present reference 5726/1A-001 is the second variation of the Annual Calendar Nautilus launched in 2012, which, for the first time was offered with the iconic Nautilus satin and mirror finished stainless steel bracelet.
Housed in the immediately recognizable case designed by Gerald Genta with a fair 40.5 millimeter diameter, this annual calendar movement displays its indications on a beautiful dark grey dial.
Even though the present lot is still in production it is extremely rare to find one on the secondary market. In fact, it is only the third time the Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref 5726/1A has appeared on the international auction market. The present watch is offered in very good overall condition, with its original box, accessories and extra links.
Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.
Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.