Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1998 Reference No: 5004P Movement No: 879'732 Case No: 4'037'705, retailer inventory number "250607+Z3" hand-engraved under the top left lug Material: Platinum Calibre: Manual, cal. CHR 27-70 Q, 28 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Patek Philippe alligator strap Clasp/Buckle: Platinum Patek Philippe deployant clasp Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by additional solid caseback, original Beyer purchase documents including invoice dated 15 Dec 1998, payment receipt dated 11 Dec 1998 and 2011 "Kassentransaktionen" document detailing the 1998 invoice, invoice and documents about a December 2005 service, Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1998 with white dial, English calendar and Arabic numerals and its subsequent sale on October 22, 1998, wooden presentation box and outer packaging. Furthermore delivered with a Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin for a ref. 5041G.
Catalogue Essay
One of the great classics of the modern Patek Philippe production, reference 5004 was in catalogue between 1994 and 2010. It was the first Patek Philippe serially-produced perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with split-seconds – based on the iconic perpetual calendar chronograph models so intertwined with the history of the brand. Together with the reference 5070 and 5970, it was the last Patek Philippe model to employ the “Nouvelle Lemania”-based calibre. The aesthetics of the watch are based on reference 3970 (itself based on the iconic ref. 2499 and 1518), with subtle differences: the dial features large Arabic numerals instead of baton markers most often found on the ref. 3970; the case is thicker and 0.8 mm larger because of the split-seconds complication, granting it a more substantial wrist presence while still remaining very elegant and understated. The model was cased in a variety of metals (pink gold, yellow gold, white gold, platinum and stainless steel), with platinum examples being at the time the most luxurious of the offerings.
The present piece not only is offered in very well-preserved condition, but furthermore is retailed by hallowed Zurich-based retailer Beyer (as indicated by the Beyer inventory number “250607” subtly hand-engraved under the top-left lug) and comes with the original Beyer sale invoice dated December 15, 1998 and handwritten payment receipt dated December 12, 1998.
The inventory number sheds some light on why this watch comes with a Certificate for a completely different model (ref. 5041G). As one can see, the 5041 Certificate is marked - as most if not all Patek Certificate for watches sold by Beyer - with the Beyer inventory number “205207” and dated December 15 - the same sale date present on the invoice for the present watch. It is obvious that a mistake was at the time made at Beyer and the Certificate for the ref. 5041 (inventory no. 205207) was given to the client instead of the correct one (inventory no 205607). Luckily, the meticulous document keeping of the original owner more than compensates for this mistake thanks to the presence of the aforementioned original invoice - a document even more rarely found with a vintage timepiece than the Certificate of Origin.
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.
Ref. 5004P An extremely attractive, scarce and collectible platinum split-second chronograph wristwatch with moonphases, 24-hour indication, leap year cycle indication, additional back and box