In 1996, following years of research, Patek Philippe patented and launched the reference 5035 - an all-new annual calendar wristwatch allowing the wearer to adjust the calendar indications only once per year between February 28th or 29th and March 1st. It was a welcome alternative to simple calendar watches that required adjustment for all non 31-day months, and higher-cost full perpetual calendar watches. The first annual calendar watch was the brain child of Laurent Junod, technical director at Patek Philippe, who for a graduate engineering project while at University of Lausanne, designed an ingenious new mechanical way for the calendar to function. The complication went on to become a staple in Patek Philippe’s production and today is found throughout their collections including the iconic Nautilus, launched as the reference 5726 in 2010.

The wristwatch featured a perfectly symmetrical dial layout with two apertures at 12 o’clock indicating the day and month, moon phases and 24-hour indication via a subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock with an aperture indicating the date below. Initially launched with a grey dial and fitted on a leather strap, Patek Philippe introduced a white-dial variant with bracelet in 2012 – both variants now discontinued. They were replaced in 2019 with the reference 5726/1A-014 featuring a blue dial and bracelet.

The present example is fresh to the market, and offered by the original owner. It is the first to appear at auction with the striated blue dial. The Nautilus is a milestone timepiece known for its classic modern design, and forty-five years since the original model was released, collectors have sought the many iterations produced by Patek Philippe. This is a rare opportunity to own one of these lovely annual calendar watches, which is complete with Certificate of Origin and presentation box.

PROPERTY OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER