Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: Circa 2010 Reference No: 5070P-001 Movement No: 3’715’257 Case No: 4'502'751 Material: Platinum Calibre: Manual, cal. CH 27-70, 24 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: Platinum Patek Philippe deployant clasp Dimensions: 42mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin stamped AL-Qurum Jewellery LLC and dated 18th March 2010, instruction manual, product literature, leather folio, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
Since introducing their first serially produced pure chronograph wristwatch via the ref. 130 in the 1930s, Patek Philippe has continued to create some of the most prized, valuable and impressive chronograph wristwatches throughout the decades. The introduction of the ref. 5070 in 1998 made headlines as it was the first pure chronograph released by the firm since the legendary ref. 1463. Initially released in yellow gold, it was made available in white gold pink gold and in 2008 a platinum version was released with a short production spanning until 2010 until it was replaced by the ref. 5170.
Taking its inspiration from the rare and desirable unique ref. 2512 featuring a 48mm diameter stepped case with applied Arabic numerals, the ref. 5070 is a modern-day homage to the elusive reference. At the time, the reference was one of the largest ever wristwatch produced by the firm. Extremely pure and exuding a classic chronograph dial configuration with two registers that are perfectly centered and aligned with the crown, the perfect proportion of the ref. 5070 is simply jaw dropping. Powered by the Lemania-based cal. CH 27-70, it was the last reference to utilize an outsourced movement making the reference a rare occasion that the world would probably never witness again. Throughout its course of production, it is estimated that 1,000 examples of the reference were encased each in yellow gold, white gold and pink gold, with only 500 examples encased in platinum.
Fresh-to-the-market and the 45th example to be identified, the present example Patek Philippe ref. 5070P-001 from circa 2010 is offered in excellent overall condition and is further complete with its full set of accessories.
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.