Patek Philippe has long been associated with complicated timepieces, from their early minute repeating and tourbillon pocket watches, to their ground-breaking, 20th century perpetual calendar and perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatches. The reference 5040 is one of their most uniquely designed models, paying homage to their 1930s time-only tortue watches. Patek Philippe introduced their first serially-produced perpetual calendar wristwatch with moonphase in 1941 with the reference 1526, housed within a classic round Calatrava-style case first introduced with the references 96 and 570 in 1932 and 1938 respectively. The tortue-shape was popularized in the early 20th century with many brands using the design for wristwatches. Elegant and stylish in appeal, it was based on the silhouette of a turtle, named “tortue,” the French word for turtle. It was Patek Philippe’s first perpetual calendar to use this distinctive case design.

First released in 1992, the reference 5040 remained in production until 2007 through two series: the first, with movement numbers beginning with 77X thousand fitted with caliber 240 114, and the second series with movement numbers beginning with 3.12 million fitted with caliber 240 116. The model was produced in yellow, white and pink gold, as well as platinum, and later replaced by the round cased references 5140J (2012) and 5140G (2014). The present white gold example from 1998 bears a 3.12 million movement number indicating the present timepiece as an example from the 2nd series. Offered with the original Certificate of Origin, second caseback, and presentation box, it is an opportunity for connoisseurs of uncommon and exceptional timepieces.