Introduced in 1998, the Patek Philippe ref. 5059 along with ref. 5050 were the only perpetual calendar wristwatches available with center seconds since the ref. 2497 and 2438-1. With a distinct appeal, the 36mm diameter officer-style case with a hinged caseback encases a perfectly symmetrical white lacquered dial with painted black Roman numerals and retrograde date indication.

The reference was produced in all four metals with an estimated 1200 – 1400 examples produced until the reference was discontinued in 2006. It is believed that only 300 examples were produced with platinum cases.

The reference 5050 and 5950 share the sophisticated, self-winding caliber 315 S-QR with its striking 21K gold rotor, based on the caliber 315 SC featuring center seconds only. A robust and state-of-the-art in-house movement, it features an intriguing retrograding 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.

The present example ref. 5059P-001 from circa 2006 is perhaps one of the last examples before it was discontinued making way for the new ref. 5159. Offered in excellent overall condition and accompanied by its original Certificate of Origin and winding presentation box, this is a great opportunity to acquire an understated perpetual calendar wristwatch manufactured by none other than Patek Philippe.