Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 2017 Reference No: 5208P Movement No: 5’175’536 Case No: 6’067’638 Material: Platinum Calibre: Automatic, cal. R CH 27 PS QI, 63 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Platinum Patek Philippe deployant clasp Dimensions: 42mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed. Accessories: Accompanied by a Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin dated March 13, 2017, additional solid caseback, setting pin, leather folder, leather wallet, product literature, Patek Philippe letter in leather folder, and large wooden presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
If Cartier is considered “King of Shapes” and Rolex the “King of Tool Watches,” then Patek Philippe is unmistakably the “King of Complications.” By looking closely at the history of Patek Philippe as a brand, it becomes evident on why the reference 5208P is not just any ordinary watch, but a testament to the pinnacle of watchmaking excellence as it signifies the manufacture’s exquisite craftsmanship and unparalleled achievements in innovation and complications.
As one of the brand’s most coveted and complicated wristwatches incorporating a minute repeater, an instantaneous perpetual calendar, and a single button chronograph, the reference 5208 represents the epitome of haute horology. The perpetual calendar is displayed through three apertures at 10:30, 12 o’clock, and 1:30, which instantaneously and synchronously jump precisely at midnight. This solution - beyond granting the calendar display a minimalist and extremely elegant aesthetic - avoids misreadings possible with much more common, non-instantaneous, calendar changes. In order to achieve this, a very specific module had to be developed in order to transmit the exact amount of power at the correct instant. Furthermore, the calendar is accompanied by the moon phase display, a staple of Patek Philippe perpetual calendar timepieces dating back to more than a century. The intricacy of this movement becomes apparent when considering it is made out of a mind-blowing 719 components in total.
Frequently spotted on the wrist of Thierry Stern and produced in extremely small quantities since 2011, this masterpiece is reserved only for the most distinguished Patek Philippe clients upon application. Each client is then carefully considered and can only be granted with a purchasing opportunity once approved by the Stern family.
The present example is offered by its original owner, in brand new, unworn condition, and comes accompanied with all of its original accessories. Discontinued in 2018 with only pink gold-cased models available in the current catalogue, the current lot is one of a few to appear back on the market, highlighting the level of attachment collectors show for this outstanding model and the consequent difficulty in sourcing it.
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. 5208P A virtually unworn, exceedingly rare, and highly important platinum minute repeating single-button chronograph wristwatch with instantaneous perpetual calendar, moon phase, Certificate of Origin, and boxes
2017 42mm Diameter Case, dial, movement and clasp signed.
