Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1992 Reference No: 5040 Movement No: 773’639 Case No: 2’923’379 Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 240 Q, 27 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe pin buckle Dimensions: 35mm width x 42mm length Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied with Patek Philippe undated Certificate of Origin and stamped by retailer Juwelier Kuhnle, Germany, additional solid caseback, setting pin, leather folio, product literature, fitted winding presentation box and outer packaging. Further delivered with a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the date of manufacture of the present timepiece in 1992 and its subsequent date of sale on 7th December 1992.
Catalogue Essay
The perpetual calendar has long been associated as the fundamental pillars of Patek Philippe. First released in 1992, the reference 5040 had a solid long run of 15 years of production through three series and was discontinued in 2007. As part of the lineage of the complication, the reference 5040 bares the atypical design popularized in the early 20th century with its unique shape. Fitted with the finely shaped yellow gold tonneau case with the equally stunning Breguet numerals, the timepiece is classic yet avant-garde compared to the usual round Calatrava-styled case.
The model was produced in 3 series with approximately 1800 pieces made in yellow gold, the first series can be distinguished by a 77X thousands movement serial until circa 1998, the second series with 3.12 million and the final with 3.67million movement serial. Fresh-to-the-market and offered with its original certificate and accessories, the present specimen from the first series of the 5040 in yellow gold is preserved in an excellent condition. It is a great chance for connoisseurs of fine timepieces to acquire a rare and highly distinctive case shaped perpetual calendar wristwatch by Patek Philippe.
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.
