Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1998 Reference No: 4960A-001 Movement No: 1’538’709 Case No: 4’045’819 Model Name: Aquanaut "Japan" Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Quartz, cal. E19 C, 7 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Patek Philippe bracelet, max length 185mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Patek Philippe deployant clasp Dimensions: 29.5mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe service invoice, additional midnight blue composite strap with stainless steel deployant clasp, fitted presentation box and outer packaging. Further delivered with Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming the present timepiece’s date of sale on 29th October 1998.
Catalogue Essay
Unveiled in 1998, the Patek Philippe ref. 4960A-001 is a rare lady’s Aquanaut made exclusively for the Japanese market. Boasting a highly desirable deep blue dial with its signature embossment, this time-and-date wristwatch is framed in a petite stainless steel case that measures only 29.5mm. Underneath the hood, the powerful in-house quartz calibre drives the present model. E19 C. Unlike the standard Aquanauts, this ref. 4960A-001 is paired with a solid stainless steel bracelet, giving the quiet giant a greater wrist presence.
Offered in excellent overall condition, the present example is destined the grace the arms of collectors with narrow wrists. This Japanese Edition Lady's Aquanaut is quintessentially a Patek Philippe through and through. 4960A-010 is designed with distinct design codes of the firm, fusing form and function that elevates any outfit. As the 6th example to be identified, fewer than a handful of these watches have resurfaced on the market, making this an extremely scarce specimen for Patek Philippe collectors.
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.