Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: 1998 Reference No: 4960 Movement No: 1’538’657 Case No: 4’045’937 Model Name: Aquanaut for the Japanese market Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Quartz, cal. E19 C, 7 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Rubber Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Patek Philippe deployant clasp Dimensions: 28mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe service slip case and presentation box. Further delivered with a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming its date of manufacture in 1998 and its subsequent date of sale on the 9th October 1998.
Catalogue Essay
In 1997, Patek Philippe launched their very first sports wristwatch fitted with a rubber strap, the Aquanaut ref. 5060A. The model featured a rounded octagonal stainless steel case measuring a specific 35.6mm resembling the case shape of the famed Nautilus with the absence of the “ears” featured on the case bands of the Nautilus. In the following year, the firm launched a ladies iteration with a smaller case size measuring 28mm and powered by a quartz caliber E19C. The regular production of the reference featured a matte black dial whilst a small quantity featuring a beautiful navy blue dial were released exclusively for the Japanese market.
The present example Patek Philippe ref. 4960 with a navy blue dial from 1998 is offered in excellent overall condition with an Extract from the Archives confirming its blue embossed dial.
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.