Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1999 Reference No: 5050R Movement No: 1'957'597 Case No: 2'989'793 Material: 18K pink gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 315S/136, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Alligator Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp Dimensions: 35mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe fitted presentation box, outer packaging, additional solid caseback and setting pin. Furthermore accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with an Opaline dial and applied rose gold bassine-style hour markers, in 1999 and its subsequent sale on December 10, 1999.
Catalogue Essay
Patek Philippe reference 5050, along with its officer-cased siblings ref. 5059 and then 5159, was introduced at Basel Fair in 1993 and is the sole model featuring the unusual complication of a perpetual calendar with retrograde fly-back date and center seconds mechanism. For the first time in Patek Philippe history, a perpetual calendar is fitted with both an automatic movement and center seconds, integrating the two distinguishing qualities of antique perpetual calendar references 3448/3450 (automatic) and 2497/2438-1 (center seconds). It also has a retrograde date, allowing for a dial design that had only been seen on Patek Philippe watches of the past - and never on a regular production model. Only a few pieces with a similar arrangement are known, such as the modified reference 96 with perpetual calendar.
Synonymous with beauty and class, the timepiece was produced in four metals: yellow gold, pink gold, white gold, and platinum. The initial examples, which had railway divisions and Roman numerals, were quickly phased out, and were replaced by the baton indexes variation. Discontinued in 2003, according to research, roughly 150 pink gold examples were made.
From the original owner, the current wristwatch is in excellent condition and comes with an extra solid caseback and setting pin.
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. 5050R An elegant, rare and attractive pink gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with center seconds, retrograde date, moonphases, leap year indication, additional case back and presentation box
1999 35mm diameter Case, dial, movement and buckle signed