Patek Philippe - The Geneva Watch Auction: XVIII Geneva Friday, November 3, 2023 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 2008
    Reference No: 5970J
    Movement No: 3'049'765
    Case No: 4'462'755
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. CH27-70 Q, 24 jewels, stamped with the Geneva Seal
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 40mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin stamped by Hong Kong retailer "King Fook Jewellery Group" and dated April 22, 2009, product literature, leather document holder, numbered envelope, wooden presentation box and double outer packaging. Furthermore accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 2008, and its subsequent sale on January 14, 2009.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Reference 5970 has by now ascended to its rightful place as one of the most appreciated and coveted neo-vintage Patek Philippe references.

    The proud heir to Patek Philippe’s legacy of perpetual calendar chronographs starting with the reference 1518, followed by the famous 2499 and 3970, it was launched in 2004 and remained in the catalogue for only 7 short years (the shortest span for any perpetual calendar chronograph model by Patek Philippe). In 2011, the model was replaced by reference 5270 that houses Patek Philippe’s first in-house chronograph caliber, making reference 5970 the last perpetual calendar chronograph to employ the heavily modified and much appreciated Nouvelle Lemania-based movement - considered a Patek Philippe technical masterpiece.
    In fact, the reference sports a highly peculiar production run, with the white and pink gold models in catalogue from 2004 to 2007, the present yellow one in 2008 only, and finally the last two years 2009/2010 send the model off with the platinum version. Consequently, the present yellow gold version is speculated to be the rarest of them all - a highly uncommon occurrence for Patek Philippe, where yellow gold is usually the most common metal, at least until the early 2000s).

    Aesthetically, we can see a “return to the origin”: whereas reference 2499 (2nd series onward) and reference 3970 featured round pushers, reference 5970 goes back to rectangular pushers giving it a resemblance to the first models of the series: the ultra-collectible references 1518 and 2499 1st series. The present yellow gold model further amplifies this vintage feeling in virtue of its case metal, which was as mentioned above the norm for vintage Patek Philippe complicated pieces.

    While already much appreciated by connoisseurs upon its launch, the increased amount of knowledge in the market spurred in recent years more and more collectors to appreciate the model, with some scholars going as far as calling it “the single most beautiful classic wristwatch ever created.”.

  • Artist Biography

    Patek Philippe

    Swiss • 1839

    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.

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Ref. 5970J
An exquisite, very scarce and highly sought-after yellow gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moonphases, 24-hour indication, leap year indication, certificate of origin and presentation box

2008
40mm Diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
CHF90,000 - 180,000 
€93,400-104,000
$98,900-110,000

Sold for CHF158,750

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Europe, and Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
AGhotbi@phillips.com

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

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The Geneva Watch Auction: XVIII

Geneva Auction 3 - 4 November 2023