259 Patek Philippe An exceptionally well-preserved and highly desirable, perpetual calendar, split-seconds chronograph, moon phases, leap year indication, wristwatch in platinum with black dial, Certificate of Origin and solid caseback, reference 5004P.

Estimate: € 350.000 –⁠ 700.000

In the rich tapestry of Patek Philippe’s grand complications, few references have the aura, mystique, and mechanical gravitas of the reference 5004. Conceived at a time when mechanical watchmaking was reasserting its dominance over the quartz era, the 5004 was not simply a response: it was a bold declaration of intent. With its split-seconds chronograph and perpetual calendar housed in a classically proportioned case, it bridged the legacy of Geneva’s finest traditions with the technical ambitions of a new millennium. Born from the legendary CH 27-70 Q movement —based on the Lemania ébauche but transformed entirely by Patek’s hand— the 5004 marked the final chapter of an era. Each piece required countless hours of meticulous adjustment, explaining why fewer than a dozen examples left the Geneva workshops each year. The present example, cased in platinum and fitted with a seldom-seen black dial with applied Arabic numerals, strikes a particularly rare and desirable note. There’s a quiet drama in its execution: the depth of the dial tone, the glow of the platinum case, the dignified balance of its layout. Few complicated watches command such presence while remaining so understated. Delivered in 2002 and accompanied by its original Certificate of Origin, solid platinum caseback, and presentation box, this ref. 5004P is the embodiment of Patek Philippe’s golden age of mechanical watchmaking. For the collector in pursuit of excellence, soul, and scarcity, this is not just an opportunity, it is a calling.