Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: Circa 1999 Reference No: 5059J-015 Movement No: 1’958’004 Case No: 4’066’602 Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 315 S-QR, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin dated December 24, 1999, wooden presentation box, leather envelope, product literature and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
The reference 5059 was introduced in 1998 to replace the previous reference 5050, the first serially produced perpetual calendar with a retrograde date by Patek Philippe. Discontinued in 2006, it was produced in all four precious metals and is particularly noteworthy for its “officer”-style hinged caseback and elongated lugs with screwed pins. Though the case diameter measures 36 millimeters, the shape and size of the lugs, as well as the thickness of the case and its domed bezel, give the 5059 a significant presence on the wrist. Encased in yellow gold, it is particularly elegant and sublime, even more so given the stark white dial contrasted with the painted black Roman numerals.
The automatic caliber 315 S-QR with 21K gold rotor is a robust, state-of-the-art in-house movement featuring an intriguing retrograde date complication as part of its perpetual calendar function. At the end of each month, the date hand automatically flies back to its original starting point – a very difficult function to reliably implement in watchmaking.
Offered with its Certificate of Origin and with day and month indicators in Italian, the present lot is very well-preserved. The reference 5059 and its contemporary reference 5050 are the successors to a long line of perpetual calendar wristwatches, and the first offered by the brand since the iconic reference 2497 was discontinued in 1963.
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. 5059J-015 A fine and attractive yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with retrograde date, leap year indication and officer-style hinged caseback with Certificate of Origin and presentation box
Circa 1999 36mm Diameter Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
