Lot 62
A fascinating, very rare and extremely collectible pink gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moonphases, leap year...
Sold
CHF177,800
Est CHF80,000 - CHF160,000
Live Auction
THE GENEVA WATCH AUCTION: XVIII
ARTIST
Patek Philippe
Size
37mm Width, 36mm Length
Description
...and 24-hour indication

Year: 1994
Reference No: 5020
Movement No: 3'045'045
Case No: 2'956'228
Material: 18K pink gold
Calibre: Manual, cal. CH27-70 Q, 24 jewels, stamped with the Geneva seal
Clasp/Buckle: !8K pink gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp
Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe wooden presentation box and outer packaging. Furthermore accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1994 and its subsequent sale on December 1, 1994.

The longest continuously running line of Patek Philippe watches, the perpetual calendar chronograph with moonphases is a cornerstone of the company’s production, with all its representatives being extremely collectible and some of them considered the ultimate tier of Patek Philippe production. Most collectors can easily describe the general aesthetics of the line: three counters at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock, moonphases at 6, two windows at 12, and a round case - traits which are shared among all the five references which encompass the series: 1518, 2499, 3970, 5970 and 5270. And yet, the aforementioned reasoning is if not wrong at the very least incomplete: it fails to take into account present reference 5020, the sixth representative of the line and the one and only NOT sporting a round case, but rather a cushion one. A most unusual design choice, it is reminiscent of the 1920s production of the firm and was not very well received at the time, resulting in the most scarce output among the four modern references (3970, 5970, 5270 and indeed 5020): about 750 examples were made in all metals from 1994 to 2002, with pink gold specimens being only circa 150. The Breguet numerals amplify the vintage charm of the piece, while the case architecture grants it remarkable wrist presence and renders it surprisingly in tune with today’s taste. While it arguably is one of the most collectible Patek Philippe references in virtue of its looks, inherent scarcity and design uniqueness, its rarity implies that it is a model very seldom seen on the market, and thus the collectors community is still relatively little aware its importance (and sometimes its existence), making it at the moment one of the most attractive proposition for the foresighted collector of rare and important ant timepieces.

Signature
Case, dial and movement signed