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162

Patek Philippe

Ref. 5050J-027

"Special Order"

A most probably unique yellow gold perpetual calendar with retrograde date, black dial, Breguet numerals and luminous hands and indexes

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Launched in 1993 and produced until 2002, reference 5050—alongside its officer-style sibling, reference 5059—remains one of the most underappreciated models of modern Patek Philippe watchmaking. For the first time in the brand’s history, a perpetual calendar was paired with both an automatic movement and central seconds—bringing together two hallmark features of revered vintage references: 3448/3450 (automatic) and 2497/2438-1 (center seconds).

Adding further distinction, the 5050 features a retrograde date display, introducing a dial layout rarely seen on Patek Philippe timepieces, and until then, unprecedented in regular production models.
The reference 5050 was made in all precious metals with opaline dials and baton markers.

It is obvious at first glance that the present ref 5050 in yellow gold is not a ordinary example, and features three aesthetic elements making it truly unique:

- Black dial
- Breguet numelars
- Luminous hands and lume plots

All these elements are of course conformed by the Certificate of Origin. The latter also sheds more light on the piece. The date of sale is indicated as 2011, almost a decade after the reference was discontinued as such one can only assume the present unique piece was made for one of Patek Philippe’s most important clients.

Patek Philippe

Swiss | 1839

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.

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