Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1998 Reference No: 5026 Movement No: 3’150’173 Case No: 4’030’153 Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 240/151 PS, 27 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Alligator Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold Patek Philippe pin buckle Dimensions: 33mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Further delivered by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with Breguet numerals in 1998 and its subsequent sale on 27th May, 1998 and leather pouch
Catalogue Essay
Launched in 1997 and produced for 6 years until 2002, the reference 5026 was produced in yellow gold, pink gold, white gold and platinum. The dials were made by Stern Creations in Geneva, featuring either a matte silver dial or a matte black dial with applied Breguet numerals. The present example is a reference 5026 in yellow gold fitted with a matte black dial with applied yellow gold Breguet numerals.
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.